firebreak

American  

[fahyuhr-breyk] / ˈfaɪərˌbreɪk /

noun

1. a strip of plowed or cleared land made to check the spread of a prairie or forest fire.

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firebreak British  

/ ˈfaɪəˌbreɪk /

noun

1. Also: fireguard.   fire line.  a strip of open land in a forest or on a prairie, to arrest the advance of a fire

2. a measure taken to arrest the advance of anything dangerous or harmful

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Etymology

Origin of firebreak

First recorded in 1890–95; fire + break

Example Sentences

Ota testified he wasn’t concerned about covering up the firebreak as there was already live brush on each side.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 27, 2025

In Caerphilly, Wales, St Martin's School closed temporarily for a "firebreak" period after more than 250 pupils and staff fell ill with a "flu-like illness".

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2025

So the marginal fall in UK inflation can be seen as something of a firebreak, for now, popping something of the frothy hysteria seen over the past few weeks.

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2025

In the 1980s, the city developed a mile-long set of 13-story buildings called the Shirahige Higashi—an urban firebreak that also manages to provide housing for 7,000 families.

From Slate • Jan. 14, 2025

Dodger could still see the flames ahead of them with his blinders on, but his focus was on the flat dirt path that created a narrow firebreak through the burning woods.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz