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noun B1 Intermediate Uncommon

firefighter

FEYE-uh-feye-tuh

Firefighter (noun) means someone trained to put out fires and rescue people from them. Example: “The firefighters arrived within minutes of the alarm.”

noun
1
Someone trained to put out fires and rescue people from them.
"The firefighters arrived within minutes of the alarm."
"She has wanted to be a firefighter since she was a kid."

How to use firefighter

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA professional who fights fires.

When to use it

The standard modern, gender-neutral term; "fireman" is still common informally but firefighter is preferred in official and professional contexts.

Common pairings
volunteer firefighter firefighter crew

Word forms

firefighters plural

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Fill the gap

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The _____ arrived within minutes of the alarm.

Etymology

From fire and fighter, coined as a gender-neutral alternative to fireman.

fireman fire-eater fire fighter

Related words

Rhymes for firefighter

See all rhymes for firefighter →

Frequently asked questions

What does “firefighter” mean?

The word “firefighter” means someone trained to put out fires and rescue people from them. In plain terms, a professional who fights fires.

How do you pronounce “firefighter”?

“Firefighter” is pronounced FEYE-uh-feye-tuh (/ˈfaɪ.ɚˌfaɪ.tɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “firefighter” in a sentence?

Here is “firefighter” used in a sentence: “The firefighters arrived within minutes of the alarm.”

What part of speech is “firefighter”?

“Firefighter” is a noun.

Is “firefighter” a common word?

“Firefighter” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial