Word
firefighter
Phoneticsfire·fight·er, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfaɪɹˌfaɪtɝ/
UK/fˈaɪəfaɪtɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person whose job is to stop fires from burning and to rescue people from dangerous situations. They often work for the city and wear special protective clothes.
n. a person whose professional role involves extinguishing fires and performing rescue operations during emergencies. This term is the standard gender-neutral replacement for 'fireman'.
Examples
“The firefighter wears a heavy helmet and a thick jacket.”
“A brave firefighter climbed the ladder to rescue the cat from the burning building.”
“Modern firefighters undergo rigorous physical training and technical instruction to handle hazardous materials and complex structural collapses in addition to traditional fire suppression.”
Examples
simple
“The firefighter wears a heavy helmet and a thick jacket.”
contextual
“A brave firefighter climbed the ladder to rescue the cat from the burning building.”
complex
“Modern firefighters undergo rigorous physical training and technical instruction to handle hazardous materials and complex structural collapses in addition to traditional fire suppression.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “firefighter” in context.
Verb
01. call the firefighters
“As soon as we saw the smoke coming from the roof, we called the firefighters.”
verb + noun
02. firefighters rescue the residents
“The brave firefighters rescued the residents from the top floor of the burning building.”
noun + verb
03. firefighters tackle the blaze
“It took several hours for the firefighters to tackle the blaze in the warehouse.”
noun + verb
Adjective
04. experienced firefighter
“An experienced firefighter knows how to read the movement of smoke to predict a backdraft.”
adj + noun
05. volunteer firefighter
“In many small towns, the local station is staffed entirely by volunteer firefighters.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. firefighter uniform
“The heavy firefighter uniform is designed to protect them from extreme heat and flames.”
noun + noun
07. team of firefighters
“A team of firefighters arrived at the scene within minutes of the alarm sounding.”
noun + of + noun
08. firefighters fought
Usage
The term is preferred over 'fireman' or 'firewoman' in professional and formal contexts to maintain gender neutrality.
Real-World Examples
“British firefighters were "under significant pressure" as multiple wildfires spread at a time of soaring temperatures and drought conditions, the head of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) said.” “French media said a 15-year-old boy had been detained in connection with a fire near Bordeaux airport that killed two firefighters in July.” “Multiple fires tore through the West Midlands on Thursday, with firefighters still working to control the blazes.” “When firefighters attempted to extinguish the flames, a drone struck close by, forcing them to withdraw, said the head of the civil defence in the Nabatieh region, Hussein Fakih.” Etymology
From fire + fighter. Created as a gender-neutral term for fireman and firewoman.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/firefighter