fire wall

noun

1

: a wall constructed to prevent the spread of fire

2

usually firewall

ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌwȯl 

: computer hardware or software that prevents unauthorized access to private data (as on a company's local area network or intranet) by outside computer users (as of the Internet)

Examples of fire wall in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The medical ass and the erotic ass never met by day or by night; the two cultures were separated by an iron curtain or fire wall. — Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026

But as essentially solo operators, content creators don’t get to maintain a strict fire wall between their business and editorial departments. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2025

Because of that, thick fire walls were installed throughout the plant's buildings. — Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025

Those plans addressed the building’s footing design, exterior fire wall and plumbing, according to city records. — Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2025

New safety measures include fire walls, state-of-the-art alarms, and sprinklers with a misting system to reduce water impact. — Dana Thomas, Architectural Digest, 20 Nov. 2024

By next summer, workers are expected to put in new roof coverings, electric cabling and a state-of-the art fire protection system — the old attic had no sprinklers or fire wall. — Aurelien Breeden, New York Times, 8 Dec. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1666, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fire wall

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball
• gasohol
• gossypol

Kids Definition

fire wall

noun

1

: a wall for preventing the spread of fire

2

usually firewall

ˈfīr-ˌwȯl 

: computer hardware or software that limits access by outside users on a network