firefighter

noun

fire·​fight·​er ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌfī-tər How to pronounce firefighter (audio)
: a person who fights fires : fireman sense 2
firefighting
ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌfī-tiŋ How to pronounce firefighter (audio)
noun

Examples of firefighter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Experts expect the hotter, drier summers to continue, and that means that there is no end in sight to the challenges for firefighters. — Tom Wait, CBS News, 31 July 2026 System dates to 1960s The whole time the inspectors were in the pipe, firefighters were able to talk with them. — Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026 Hundreds of firefighters, relatives and community residents filled a college arena for a funeral service for a Utah fire captain, his wife and three sons who were killed in a flash flood while on a camping trip. — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 30 July 2026 Police said Fort Worth firefighters arrived and pronounced him dead. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for firefighter

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of firefighter was in 1839

Rhymes for firefighter

See All Rhymes for firefighter

Browse Nearby Words

firefight
firefighter
firefighting
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Cite this Entry

“Firefighter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firefighter. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

firefighter

noun
: a member of a company organized to fight fires
firefighting noun

More from Merriam-Webster on firefighter

Nglish: Translation of firefighter for Spanish Speakers

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