aerial ladder

noun

: a mechanically operated extensible ladder usually mounted on a fire truck

Examples of aerial ladder 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.
Crews immediately shifted to rescue mode, using both ground ladders and aerial ladders to reach people trapped above the fire. Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026 Fire crews used aerial ladder trucks, as well as firefighters on the roof, to bring the fire under control. Kansas City Star, 5 Jan. 2026 Fire crews were told to exit and the the building was deemed unsafe to continue searching for people, Evans said Firefighters continued to battle the flames from outside the apartment building using aerial ladder pipes, along with ground and hand lines. Timia Cobb breaking News Reporter, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026 As dawn arrived on Thursday, smoke and cinders continued to fall around the complex, and four aerial ladders remained in use after more than 15 hours of firefighting. Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 27 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for aerial ladder

Word History

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aerial ladder was in 1904

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Aerial ladder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aerial%20ladder. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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