Word
fireman
Phoneticsfire·man, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfaɪɹmən/
UK/fˈaɪəmən/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person whose job is to put out fires and rescue people from dangerous situations. Most people now use the gender-neutral word 'firefighter' instead.
n. a person employed to extinguish fires and rescue individuals from hazardous environments. While historically common, it is increasingly replaced by the gender-neutral 'firefighter' in modern professional contexts.
Examples
“The fireman climbed the ladder to reach the window.”
“The local fireman received an award for his bravery during the forest fire last summer.”
“In older literature, the fireman is often depicted as a heroic figure battling the elements, though modern administrative documents almost exclusively use the term firefighter to reflect a diverse workforce.”
Examples
simple
“The fireman climbed the ladder to reach the window.”
contextual
“The local fireman received an award for his bravery during the forest fire last summer.”
complex
“In older literature, the fireman is often depicted as a heroic figure battling the elements, though modern administrative documents almost exclusively use the term firefighter to reflect a diverse workforce.”
Usage
The plural form is 'firemen'.
Pitfall
The fireman she is brave.
The firefighter she is brave.
Because 'fireman' is gender-specific, it is logically inconsistent and socially dated to use it when referring to a woman; use 'firefighter' instead.
Etymology
From fire + -man.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- 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.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL 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: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
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