fire department
Americannoun
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the department of a municipal government charged with the prevention and extinguishing of fire.
-
the personnel in such a department.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of fire department
An Americanism dating back to 1815–25
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.
The local fire department said a second-floor section collapsed, leaving multiple people trapped inside as emergency responders worked to free them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
"We are absolutely heartbroken by the death of Captain Spencer Long and his family," the fire department said.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
The building’s solar array had a shutdown switch that firefighters flipped when the most recent blaze began, according to the fire department.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
The fire department found “what appeared to be potentially dangerous explosives/fireworks” nearby.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2026
He formed an exposition fire department and ordered the installation of hundreds of fire hydrants and telegraphic alarm boxes.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
