firefighter

/ˈfaɪrˌfaɪtər/

/ˈfaɪəfaɪtə/

Other forms: firefighters

A firefighter is someone whose job involves investigating and putting out accidental blazes. If your gas stove ignites a towel and you can't put out the flames, call the firefighters!

The word fireman is older than firefighter, which first appeared in the late 19th century, and for a long time it was much more commonly used. These days, it's more accurate to use firefighter, since men and women both work for fire departments battling fires. Also, the word perfectly describes the job itself, fighting dangerous fires.

Definitions of firefighter

1. noun

   a member of a fire department who tries to extinguish fires
   synonyms: fire fighter, fire-eater, fireman

   types:

   fire chief, fire marshal

   the head of a fire department

   fire warden, forest fire fighter, ranger

   an official who is responsible for managing and protecting an area of forest

   coyote

   a forest fire fighter who is sent to battle remote and severe forest fires (often for days at a time)

   type of:

   defender, guardian, protector, shielder

   a person who cares for persons or property