firefighter

American  

[fahyuhr-fahy-ter] / ˈfaɪərˌfaɪ tɛr /

Or fire fighter

noun

1. a person who fights destructive fires.

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firefighter British  

/ ˈfaɪəˌfaɪtə /

noun

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

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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

One firefighter and one civilian sustained minor injuries in the fire and were transported to a hospital for treatment.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

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

Nine of the people injured are employees at the factory, and one is a firefighter, Goldstein said.

From BBC • May 26, 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

He went back to Bozeman and worked in construction and as a forest services firefighter for a year and a half.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell