firewoman

firewoman — noun

1. a woman whose job is to stop fires from burning and to rescue people and animals

1.nounB1
Definition

a woman whose job is to stop fires from burning and to rescue people and animals from burning buildings, vehicles, or other dangerous situations

Example

The firewoman, Aisha Patel, climbed the ladder as smoke poured from the third-floor window.

countable noun with proper name in apposition

After two years of training, Lin Chen became a firewoman at the city's oldest station.

indefinite article: became a firewoman

Common collocations
  • become a firewoman
  • train as a firewoman
  • work as a firewoman
  • first firewoman in [place]
  • veteran firewoman
  • volunteer firewoman
Synonyms
  • firefighter

    gender-neutral term used for all professionals; the standard modern title

  • fireman

    traditionally male-specific; now widely replaced by 'firefighter' in modern usage

Usage Note

The gender-neutral term 'firefighter' is now the standard professional title and is preferred in job advertisements, official documents, and workplace contexts. 'Firewoman' may be used in news stories or conversation when the speaker wants to specify a woman's role, but some women in the profession prefer 'firefighter' regardless of gender.

Common Mistakes

She has worked as a fireman for five years.
She has worked as a firefighter for five years.
'Fireman' is historically masculine; use 'firefighter' for a neutral professional title.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three words refer to a person who fights fires, but they differ in usage and connotation. Firefighter is the modern, gender-neutral term used in official job titles, news reports, and workplace settings; it is the safest choice in any context. Fireman was historically the standard term but is now widely seen as outdated or inaccurate when referring to women in the profession. Firewoman is the direct female-specific counterpart, used mainly in news stories or personal accounts when the speaker wants to highlight a woman's role — for example, 'She was the first firewoman hired at her station.' In everyday professional use, however, many women in the field refer to themselves simply as firefighters.

firefighter ↗fireman ↗firewoman ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • firewoman's helmet
  • firewoman's gear
  • firewoman's station
  • firewoman's uniform

Phrases

  • work as a firewoman
  • train as a firewoman
  • become a firewoman
  • serve as a firewoman

Prepositions

  • firewoman at [station/district]

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

A compound word formed from 'fire' (from Old English 'fȳr', meaning 'combustion, flame') + 'woman' (from Old English 'wīfman', meaning 'female human being'). The word entered English alongside 'fireman' in the 1700s, but it was rarely used until the late 20th century, when women began joining fire departments in larger numbers and a gender-specific label became useful. The gender-neutral 'firefighter' has since become the dominant professional term.