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

The 5-foot-10, 181-pound hydrant is at his best inside the dots and around the blue paint. —Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026

Priority areas include meter performance, hydrant functionality, and coordination with Miami-Dade County. —Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 12 Jan. 2026

The researchers built a solution that works for private homes by turning to hydrants. —Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 12 Jan. 2026

Twelves hooked up to a hydrant, and Alves grabbed a chainsaw off the rig to trim some of the trees along the houses as the fire backed down the hill toward them. —Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 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