firebreak

noun

fire·​break ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌbrāk How to pronounce firebreak (audio)
: a barrier of cleared or plowed land intended to check a forest or grass fire

Examples of firebreak in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Invest in brush clearance, firebreaks, water access and grid resilience in high-risk areas. — Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 May 2026 Under expert instruction, the students formed a firebreak, a strategic barrier created by wildland fire crews to help prevent the uncontrolled spread of flames, as a part of their entry-level field course work. — John Leos, AZCentral.com, 23 Apr. 2025 Consider utility needs like creating a firebreak, the possibility of changing plants or even the shape of the bed in the future (gravel is much harder to remove and plant through), and accessibility. — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 June 2026 The 35-year-old man had been attempting to create firebreaks near the town of Nogarejas, in the central Castile and Leon region, when he was trapped in the blaze, regional officials said. — USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for firebreak

Word History

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of firebreak was in 1827

Rhymes for firebreak

See All Rhymes for firebreak

Browse Nearby Words

firebrat
firebreak
fire-breathing
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Firebreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firebreak. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

firebreak

noun
fire·​break -ˌbrāk How to pronounce firebreak (audio)
: a barrier of cleared or plowed land intended to stop the spread of a forest or grass fire

More from Merriam-Webster on firebreak

Nglish: Translation of firebreak for Spanish Speakers

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