firewall
FEYE-uh-waw-uhl
Firewall (noun) means a fireproof barrier built to stop fire from spreading between parts of a building or vehicle. Example: “The garage was separated from the house by a firewall.”
noun
1
A fireproof barrier built to stop fire from spreading between parts of a building or vehicle.
"The garage was separated from the house by a firewall."
2
Software that monitors and controls network traffic to block unauthorized access.
"The company firewall blocked the suspicious connection automatically."
"Make sure your firewall is enabled before connecting to public Wi-Fi."
3
A strict separation kept between two parts of an organization to avoid conflicts of interest.
"There's meant to be a firewall between the newsroom and the advertising department."
How to use firewall
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA barrier that blocks something harmful from spreading — physical fire, network threats, or conflicts of interest.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
set up a firewall
behind a firewall
ethical firewall
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Word forms
- Plural
- firewalls
- Third person singular
- firewalls
- Past tense
- firewalled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The garage was separated from the house by a _____.
Etymology
From fire and wall. The computing sense builds on the image of a physical barrier that blocks the spread of something dangerous.
Rhymes for firewall
See all rhymes for firewall →Frequently asked questions
What does “firewall” mean?
The word “firewall” means a fireproof barrier built to stop fire from spreading between parts of a building or vehicle. In plain terms, a barrier that blocks something harmful from spreading — physical fire, network threats, or conflicts of interest.
How do you pronounce “firewall”?
“Firewall” is pronounced FEYE-uh-waw-uhl (/ˈfaɪ(ə)ɹˌwɔl/ in IPA).
How do you use “firewall” in a sentence?
Here is “firewall” used in a sentence: “The garage was separated from the house by a firewall.”
What part of speech is “firewall”?
“Firewall” is a noun.
Is “firewall” a common word?
“Firewall” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “firewall” have?
“Firewall” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a fireproof barrier built to stop fire from spreading between parts of a building or vehicle.
