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

There are over 600 hydrants in town. —Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 26 Feb. 2026

The person who clears the most hydrants can win a gift card to a local restaurant. —Jenna Deangelis, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026

Attleboro firefighters had to overcome deep snow, live electrical wires and frozen hydrants to extinguish a two-alarm fire at a home early Wednesday morning. —Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2026

This new neighborhood also addressed critical infrastructure upgrades for Queens’ future such as new streets, signage, sidewalks, curbs, trees and lights installed alongside water mains, hydrants, sewers and utilities. —Donovan Richards, New York Daily News, 17 Feb. 2026

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