firewall

or fire wall

[ fahyuhr-wawl ]

/ ˈfaɪərˌwɔl /

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noun

a partition made of fireproof material to prevent the spread of a fire from one part of a building or ship to another or to isolate an engine compartment, as on a plane, automobile, etc.

a person, thing, or event that acts as a barrier or protection against something undesirable: The new employee handbook should create a firewall against unethical business conduct.

Digital Technology. an integrated collection of security measures designed to prevent unauthorized electronic access to a networked computer system.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of firewall

An Americanism dating back to 1750–60

Words nearby firewall

firetrap, fire truck, fire-tube boiler, fire up, fire walking, firewall, firewarden, fire watcher, firewater, fireweed, FireWire

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use firewall in a sentence

In one example Marti gave, one external company with which CafeMedia shares data has an internal firewall set up that prevents commingling of some data from other sources, therefore restricting the information used to decide how the ad is targeted.
How The New York Times and CafeMedia have taken divergent approaches to complying with California’s privacy law|Kate Kaye|February 22, 2021|Digiday
The study is behind a firewall for the Journal of Communication, but many libraries have access to it via the Oxford University Press Journals database.
The Real Congress Is Kinder, Gentler Than What You See on TV|Philip Elliott|February 19, 2021|Time
The risk of infection and transmission doesn’t drop to zero with a pair of shots, but when combined with other measures, like wearing face masks, they become a firewall against transmission.
Covid-19 vaccines are great — but you still need to wear a mask for now|Umair Irfan|February 9, 2021|Vox
Brands need the right software, and the right hands-on service, to prepare their data for optimal matching in processes that are kept entirely behind the marketer’s firewall, and under their own complete control and supervision.
Marketers have successfully pivoted to first-party data, but struggle to deploy it|Adstra|December 2, 2020|Digiday

While it’s not clear yet if Google will check your site for a firewall, you should have one in place either way.
The Google page experience: What you need to know and five steps to prepare for 2021|Gert Svaiko|December 1, 2020|Search Engine Watch
He was referring to web censorship behind the Great Firewall.
China’s Internet Is Freer Than You Think|Brendon Hong|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“We were very careful to build a firewall between that work and our work with independent journalists,” Bourgault said.
Why the U.S. Paid Karzai's Top Aide|Eli Lake, Josh Rogin|December 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Being one of the first people in the world to sell an internet firewall, he knows a thing or two about making a good investment.
‘Shark Tank’: Robert Herjavec talks Money, Mark Cuban & Racing Cars|Anna Klassen|October 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
They could help, designing a software tool that would allow the Chinese to sneak past the government firewall.
Anonymous’s Next Move|Winston Ross|April 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I think that the firewall between depression and psychosis is going to be erased.
America’s Depression Diagnoses Epidemic and How to Fix It|Jesse Singal|March 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The inside door, much weaker than the outer firewall door, had been blown off its hinges.
The Bramble Bush|Gordon Randall Garrett
He went out again, closing the firewall door behind him and dogging it tight.
The Bramble Bush|Gordon Randall Garrett
He opened up the conduit boxes that led through the antechamber from the control console to the reactor beyond the firewall.
The Bramble Bush|Gordon Randall Garrett
Moving quickly, he went over to the place where the control cables came in through the firewall.
The Bramble Bush|Gordon Randall Garrett
That meant that whatever it was that had fouled up the controls was on the other side of the firewall.
The Bramble Bush|Gordon Randall Garrett

British Dictionary definitions for firewall

firewall

noun

a fireproof wall or partition used to impede the progress of a fire, as from one room or compartment to another

computing a computer system that isolates another computer from the internet in order to prevent unauthorized access

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

Scientific definitions for firewall

firewall

[ fîr′wôl′ ]

A software program or hardware device that restricts communication between a private network or computer system and outside networks.

Cultural definitions for firewall

firewall

A means of separating a computer network from outside networks for security purposes. A server outside an organization's own network may be used to funnel all incoming and outgoing traffic to assist in keeping out viruses, as well as to prevent unauthorized outsiders from gaining access to a network.