adj
Common
fired
FEYE-uhd
Fired (adj) means Dismissed from a job. Example: “She got fired for showing up late three times in a row.”
adj
1
Dismissed from a job.
"She got fired for showing up late three times in a row."
"Half the sales team was fired after the merger."
"The fired employee collected his things from the desk and handed back his key card."
2
Heated in a kiln or furnace until it hardens permanently, as with pottery.
"The fired clay pots were finally ready to glaze."
"Once the fired bowl had cooled, she painted a blue pattern around the rim."
"Fired pottery is much stronger than clay that has only been left to dry."
How to use fired
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither let go from a job, or hardened by heat (like pottery in a kiln).
Common pairings
got fired
fired clay
fired for cause
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She got _____ for showing up late three times in a row.
Etymology
From fire, going back through Old English fȳr to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "fire."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for fired
See all rhymes for fired →Frequently asked questions
What does “fired” mean?
The word “fired” means dismissed from a job. In plain terms, either let go from a job, or hardened by heat (like pottery in a kiln).
How do you pronounce “fired”?
“Fired” is pronounced FEYE-uhd (/ˈfaɪ̯ɚd/ in IPA).
How do you use “fired” in a sentence?
Here is “fired” used in a sentence: “She got fired for showing up late three times in a row.”
What part of speech is “fired”?
“Fired” is an adjective.
Where does the word “fired” come from?
The word “fired” comes from Old English. From fire, going back through Old English fȳr to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "fire.".
Is “fired” a common word?
“Fired” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “fired” have?
“Fired” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: dismissed from a job.
What is the difference between being fired and laid off?
Being fired usually means you were dismissed because of your own conduct or performance, so the reason relates to you. Being laid off means your position was cut for business reasons, such as cost-saving or restructuring, through no fault of your own. Layoffs are generally seen as more neutral than firings.
What is the difference between being fired and quitting?
Being fired is the employer's decision to end your employment. Quitting, or resigning, is your own decision to leave. The difference matters for references and benefits: people who are fired can often claim unemployment support, while those who quit voluntarily usually cannot, depending on local rules and the reasons involved.
Is being fired the same as being terminated?
They mean much the same thing, but terminated is the formal, neutral term employers use in official documents, while fired is the everyday spoken word. Termination can technically cover any end of employment, including layoffs, whereas fired more strongly implies dismissal for cause, such as misconduct or poor performance.
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