# firemen

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

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/firemen
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

people whose job is to stop fires and rescue people from dangerous situations. Many people now use the word 'firefighters' instead because it includes everyone.

For teachers: individuals professionally trained to extinguish fires and rescue people from hazardous environments. While historically common, the term is increasingly replaced by the gender-neutral 'firefighters' in official and professional contexts.

## Examples

- The firemen arrived quickly to put out the house fire.
- Three firemen entered the smoke-filled building to search for anyone trapped on the upper floors.
- The local museum features an exhibit dedicated to the firemen who served the city during the Great Fire, showcasing their vintage equipment and hand-drawn water pumps.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The firemen is here." but "The firemen are here." — Firemen is the plural form of fireman and requires a plural verb.

## Usage notes

- The plural form of 'fireman'; takes plural verb agreement. In modern English, 'firefighters' is preferred for gender neutrality.

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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.