hydrant

noun

hy·​drant ˈhī-drənt 

plural hydrants

1

: a discharge pipe with a valve and spout at which water may be drawn from a water main (as for fighting fires)

called also fireplug

2

: faucet

Examples of hydrant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

They're dropped into the water system through hydrants and travel in groups, scanning the inside of pipes for even the smallest cracks. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 July 2025

The suggestion by city council then was to test the flow of each hydrant and mark them so they could be replaced. —David Ferrara, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

Five minutes after that, at 6:28 a.m., crew members had found multiple hydrants for the response. —Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 21 May 2025

Iron typically sits at the bottom of water mains, Eldridge said, but during heavy water usage — like during hydrant flushing or fire response — the iron gets stirred into the water. —Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Greek hydr-, form in derivatives and compounds of hýdōr "water" + -ant entry 1 — more at hydro-

Note: Though the above is the only likely etymology, the formation is peculiar, as the suffix -ant is normally associated with verbs of French and/or Latin origin. This peculiarity suggests a deliberate coinage, but its source is apparently unknown. The word is attested earliest in Philadelphia city ordinances from the first decade of the nineteenth century.

First Known Use

1806, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hydrant

• fire hydrant

Kids Definition

hydrant

noun

hy·​drant ˈhī-drənt 

: a pipe with a valve and spout at which water may be drawn from the main pipes