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

If there’s a two-minute firefight, there’s a lot that goes on. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2025

One is Nixon Perez, who was charged with felony tampering in Adams County after picking up bullet casings from a firefight in the summer of 2024 before police arrived. —Martin Kaste, NPR, 8 Apr. 2025

At the train station, a firefight breaks out between Whitfield’s men and the Duttons, who are desperate to reach Spencer before their enemies do. —Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025

The cop was injured during a firefight with gangs in the Artibonite region north of Port-au-Prince, and died after he was airlifted by members of the Salvadoran army. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 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