firefighter

American  

[fahyuhr-fahy-ter] / ˈfaɪərˌfaɪ tɛr /

Or fire fighter

noun

1. a person who fights destructive fires.

---

firefighter British  

/ ˈfaɪəˌfaɪtə /

noun

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

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• firefighting
  noun

Etymology

Origin of firefighter

First recorded in 1900–05; fire + fighter

Explanation

A firefighter is someone whose job involves investigating and putting out accidental blazes. If your gas stove ignites a towel and you can't put out the flames, call the firefighters! The word fireman is older than firefighter, which first appeared in the late 19th century, and for a long time it was much more commonly used. These days, it's more accurate to use firefighter, since men and women both work for fire departments battling fires. Also, the word perfectly describes the job itself, fighting dangerous fires.

Example Sentences

First responders took 10 people to the hospital, including eight workers and one firefighter, Matt Amos, battalion chief of the Longview Fire Department, said at a press conference.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

"We're used to it," said Roman, a 36-year-old firefighter who helped clear the ruins from a building destroyed in the strike.

From Barron's • May 25, 2026

One fire marshal is in a critical condition and one firefighter is in a serious condition as of Friday evening, Mamdani.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

Hunter, a firefighter and fan favorite, lost on an 8-3-0 vote.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

The work was especially meaningful to him: as a firefighter, he was saving lives and property not killing and destroying.

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge