fire station: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “fire station” mean?
A building where fire engines and firefighters are based and respond to emergency calls.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A building where fire engines and firefighters are based and respond to emergency calls.
A municipal facility housing firefighting apparatus, equipment, and personnel, often serving as a community emergency response hub.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
None. The term is identical and universal in both dialects.
Connotations
Associated with public safety, community service, and emergency response. Neutral connotation.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “fire station” in a Sentence
The [ADJ] fire stationat/near the fire stationfrom the fire stationto the fire stationVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
(Rare) Might appear in municipal planning or public tender documents.
Academic
(Rare) Used in urban studies, public administration, or history texts.
Everyday
Common in general conversation, news reports, and giving directions.
Technical
Standard in firefighting, emergency services, and urban planning jargon.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fire station”
- firestation (needs a space)
- firestation (incorrect spelling)
- the station of fire (unnatural word order)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a two-word compound noun, written with a space: 'fire station'.
There is no significant difference in meaning. 'Firehouse' is slightly more common in American English, while 'fire station' is universal. 'Firehouse' can sometimes sound more informal or traditional.
No, 'fire station' is exclusively a noun. You cannot 'fire station' something.
You can ask: 'Excuse me, where is the nearest fire station?' or 'Can you tell me how to get to the fire station?'
A building where fire engines and firefighters are based and respond to emergency calls.
Fire station is usually neutral in register.
Fire station: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfaɪə ˌsteɪʃn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfaɪr ˌsteɪʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a TRAIN STATION for trains; a FIRE STATION is the 'home base' for fire engines.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FORTRESS / GUARDIAN'S HOME (a protected place from which defenders sally forth).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a fire station?