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

• 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

The firefighter has a side business taking tourists bow-fishing for the carp along the Illinois River, where he rigs nets around the boat for protection.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

On Wednesday, a volunteer firefighter was found dead from suspected exhaustion linked to heat and underlying health conditions, officials told AFP.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

The popular show was about members of London Fire Brigade, and he played firefighter Billy Ray, raising his profile so much that by 1996 he launched a pop career.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

Gimbel, who served as an economic adviser in the Biden and Obama administrations, noted that the eurozone is making nascent efforts to attract bond investors — in other words, to become that nice firefighter.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 12, 2026

“And on her wrist she has the Yarmouth firefighter badge. Most firefighters in town have one.”

From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt