fire engine

American  

[fahyuhr en-juhn] / ˈfaɪər ˌɛn dʒən /

noun

1. a vehicle equipped for firefighting, now usually a motor truck having a motor-driven pump for shooting water or chemical solutions at high pressure.

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fire engine British  

noun

1. a heavy road vehicle that carries firefighters and firefighting equipment to a fire

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Etymology

Origin of fire engine

First recorded in 1670–80

Example Sentences

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said three fire engine crews were called to tackle the blaze, which affected two floors of the property at Caerphilly Close, just after midnight on Friday 9 January.

From BBC • Jan. 11, 2026

Another filmed himself checking on his home, and you can see exactly what he sees when he comments “not a fire engine in sight.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025

"When we got home, a fire engine was already there and our whole front garden was already flooded and the kids toys were floating around," she said.

From BBC • Aug. 29, 2025

About 20 minutes later, the accounting department calls, and the lady says, ‘Bob, write this number down. This is the charging number for the fire engine project.’

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2025

Rowdy crowds were pushing this way and that, and a fire engine pulled by six straining horses went careening down the center of the street.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan