Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

fireproof

American  
[fahyuhr-proof] / ˈfaɪərˌpruf /

adjective

  1. resistant to destruction by fire.

  2. totally or almost totally unburnable.


verb (used with object)

  • fireproofs,
    present (3rd person singular)
  • fireproofed,
    past participle,  past
  • fireproofing
    present participle
  1. to make fireproof.

fireproof British  
/ ˈfaɪəˌpruːf /

adjective

  1. capable of resisting damage by fire

"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

verb

  1. (tr) to make resistant to fire

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of fireproof

First recorded in 1630–40; fire + -proof

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

For that reason, many people once viewed mature sequoias as nearly fireproof.

From Science Daily Jul. 26, 2026

The Ukrainian president is the same as ever—steadfast, with a nervous system that seems fireproof and capable of withstanding anything.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 18, 2026

Mesh material and plastic sheets which were found on the outside of the buildings are not believed to be fireproof, while polystyrene was also found on the buildings' windows.

From BBC Nov. 27, 2025

The housing equivalent of herd immunity, where enough homes are fireproof that the entire community can be protected against future fires.

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 12, 2025

After describing at great length how solid and fireproof the Tribune Building was, Mackintosh paused and, with a sad sigh, he con-cluded, “That is, it was fireproof up to the date of its destruction.”

From "The Great Fire" by Jim Murphy

One of the more recent fireproofs was Eugene Rivalli, whose act included, besides the usual effects, a cage of fire in which he stood completely surrounded by flames.

From The Miracle Mongers, an Exposé by Harry Houdini

A solid wall of fireproofs along Arch Street had held the fire from spreading eastward there, but as Franklin Street was passed in the southward sweep, the eastward urging was not wholly to be denied.

From White Ashes by Sidney R. (Sidney Robinson) Kennedy

The double row of fireproofs, which was to have held the fire at bay, was attacked and went down; then the Chamber of Commerce melted away; shortly after the court-house was assailed.

From Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Vol. 12, No. 32, November, 1873 by Various

Experts still disagree over whether homes can be completely fireproofed in a wind-driven ember fire.

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 14, 2024

"It's a 100% wood house, so it's not like we fireproofed it or anything," Dora Atwater Millikin told the Los Angeles Times.

From BBC Aug. 21, 2023

In more modern and legally fireproofed buildings, fires are more likely to be contained, thanks to fireproof building materials and doors that automatically close, sealing off the fire in smaller spaces.

From New York Times Jan. 11, 2022

That popularity has fireproofed the Globes against years of criticism — and now makes it less likely the show will go away permanently.

From Washington Post May 13, 2021

Some were elaborate structures of galvanized iron, carefully fireproofed and covered with notices warning against smoking; others, again, were plain, hastily erected wooden structures.

From The Boy Aviators' Treasure Quest by John Henry Goldfrap

It’s the reason that newly built neighborhoods such as Orchard Hills in Irvine require higher fireproofing standards for homes on the outer rim of the community.

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 12, 2025

Price hikes in notoriously opaque power markets can stem from transmission upgrades, volatile commodity costs and expensive fireproofing measures, factors that vary by region.

From The Wall Street Journal Nov. 10, 2025

Going forward, Aghayere would like to see better fireproofing on overpasses and bridges.

From Slate Jun. 16, 2023

PCBs were used for decades in industrial and electrical equipment, hydraulic fluids, fireproofing, paper products, ink and paint.

From Seattle Times Mar. 7, 2022

A century before, some buildings still had fire escapes running down their outsides, but modern fireproofing had rendered such anachronisms unnecessary.

From Anything You Can Do ... by Randall Garrett

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training