firefight

noun

fire·​fight ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌfīt 

1

a

: a usually brief intense exchange of fire between opposing military units

b

: a hostile confrontation that involves gunfire

2

: skirmish sense 2b

Examples of firefight in a Sentence

a firefight between police and bank robbers

Recent Examples on the Web

Nearly 27 years later — July 10, 2009 — Kopp’s Ranger unit attacked a Taliban safe haven and was involved in a firefight that lasted hours, killing several Taliban. —Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 22 Mar. 2025

The officers engaged Archangel-Ortiz in a firefight, killing him. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2025

Scott's film depicts the Battle of Mogadishu, a clash between U.S. forces and Somali militants in 1993 that resulted in two Black Hawk helicopters crashing in hostile territory, necessitating a rescue mission and an overnight firefight. —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 12 Feb. 2025

In the middle of one firefight, Lozano also got knocked senseless by the blast wave from a tank gun. —Jon Hamilton, NPR, 14 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for firefight

• acolyte
• aconite
• allanite
• alunite
• amberlite
• ammonite
• amorite
• amphitrite
• analyte
• anchorite
• andesite
• anhydrite