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hydrant

American  
[hahy-druhnt] / ˈhaɪ drənt /

noun

  1. an upright pipe with a spout, nozzle, or other outlet, usually in the street, for drawing water from a main or service pipe, especially for fighting fires.

  2. a water faucet.


hydrant British  
/ ˈhaɪdrənt /

noun

  1. an outlet from a water main, usually consisting of an upright pipe with a valve attached, from which water can be tapped for fighting fires See also fire hydrant

"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

Etymology

Origin of hydrant

An Americanism dating back to 1800–10; hydr- 1 + -ant

Vocabulary lists containing hydrant

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.

In May, a well on the Pecos County property of Laura Briggs started spraying saltwater like a fire hydrant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

The Newtown Dream Dog Park is one of the best in the country, outfitted with sprinklers, a spraying hydrant, hoops, tunnels and more.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 29, 2025

At least one of the tankers filled at a hydrant reserved for fire engines, according to an activist who spoke to the driver and photographed paperwork showing his destination.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 2, 2025

The Cybertruck careened instead into a fire hydrant, then a tree, before bursting into flames.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2025

I remember watching him pop his head up from a different torn comic-book page, and his notepad, to watch the kids play in the hydrant.

From "When I Was the Greatest" by Jason Reynolds