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

Another neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, was woken up at 05:30 by the sound of a fire engine.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

It said another factor was the lack of a transponder on the fire engine.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

Atop the aerial ladder of a bright red fire engine, a firefighter wrangles a hose.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2025

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

I gave up and headed to the last alarm, the sound of the fire engine clanging in the background.

From Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm