firefighter

or fire fight·er

[ fahyuh r-fahy-ter ]

/ ˈfaɪərˌfaɪ tɛr /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR firefighter ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person who fights destructive fires.

RELATED WORDS

engineman, ladderman

Nearby words

Origin of firefighter

First recorded in 1900–05; fire + fighter

Related formsfire·fight·ing, noun, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for firefighter

The eyes of people like Thomas Patrick Cullen III, firefighter, Squad 41, husband, father, 31 years old.
Dick Cheney vs. ‘Unbroken’|Mike Barnicle|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“This [investigation] is part of routine procedure following the death of any firefighter,” he told The Daily Beast.
The Mystery Death Of A Female Firefighter|Christopher Moraff|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“After the withdraw, they realized that firefighter Craig-Lewis was missing,” said Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Derrick Sawyer.
The Mystery Death Of A Female Firefighter|Christopher Moraff|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Newspaper clippings, many of them with pictures of the owner, a former Gary firefighter, are everywhere.
Gary, Indiana Is a Serial Killer’s Playground|Justin Glawe|October 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

On my desk is a list of every firefighter, police officer, and uniformed service member who died in the line of duty on that day.
The Resilient City: New York After 9/11|John Avlon|September 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Suzanne grabbed his hand and walked him over to the truck and grabbed the first firefighter she encountered.
Makers|Cory Doctorow
The fire was out now, the firefighter hosing down the last embers, going through the crowd and checking for injuries.
Makers|Cory Doctorow
They rushed for the footbridge and a firefighter blocked their way.
Makers|Cory Doctorow

British Dictionary definitions for firefighter

firefighter

/ (ˈfaɪəˌfaɪtə) /

noun

a person who fights fires, usually a public employee or trained volunteer

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for firefighter