# fireman

/ˈfaɪɹmən/ (US) · /fˈaɪəmən/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fireman
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The fireman she is brave." but "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.

## Usage notes

- The plural form is 'firemen'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.