hotline

American  

[hot-lahyn] / ˈhɒtˌlaɪn /

noun

• hotlines
  plural

1. Also hot line a direct telecommunications link enabling immediate communication between heads of state in an international crisis.

   the hotline between Washington and Moscow.

2. Also hot line a telephone service enabling people to talk confidentially with someone about a personal problem or crisis.

   The protective services system is anchored by a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week emergency hotline.

3. Also hot line a telephone line providing customers or clients with direct access to a company or professional service.

   If you need assistance, feel free to chat with us through our online auto parts website or give our hotline a call.

4. Chiefly Canadian. a radio program to which listeners can phone in comments or questions.

   The radio hotline features advice and insight from a range of bank spokespeople during tax season.

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adjective

1. Chiefly Canadian. of or relating to a radio program to which listeners can phone in comments or questions.

hotline British  

/ ˈhɒtˌlaɪn /

noun

1. a direct telephone, teletype, or other communications link between heads of government, for emergency use

2. any such direct line kept for urgent use

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• hotlines
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of hotline

First recorded in 1950–55; hot + line ¹

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Explanation

A hotline is a direct and immediate communication link. In 2007, the U.S. and China agreed to establish a dedicated defense hotline allowing top military officials to communicate directly during times of crisis. A political hotline provides a direct line of communication between key leaders or defense officials. Various nations have set up hotlines to facilitate communication, including the U.S. and Russia; North and South Korea; and India and Pakistan. Beyond diplomacy, a hotline is also any phone service designed for immediate aid or information, especially in an emergency. In the U.S., for example, there are Poison Help and mental-health crisis hotlines.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hotline hotlines

Call a hotline, she told volunteers, where attorneys will be ready to respond.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

A toll-free emergency hotline, 719, has been provided to the public to report suspected symptoms.

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026

The agreement requires CVS to establish a hotline for employees and the public to report suspected illegal dispensing of controlled substances.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

LGBTQ+ people experiencing any type of violence can call the Anti-Violence Project’s hotline at 212-714-1141 Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2026

Police urge anyone with information to call the following toll-free crime-stoppers hotline.

From "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan

For more than four decades, the 1736 Family Crisis Center has offered care for victims of domestic violence, running shelters and crisis hotlines in L.A. and Orange counties on what today is a $15-million budget.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

Allianz Partners provides services like travel protection and 24//7 hotlines for other companies that sell to consumers.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026

American citizens were urged to check "the latest security updates" with nearby embassies and consulates, and given hotlines for if they need help leaving the region.

From BBC ● Mar. 3, 2026

As people have begun to print more and more whistles, they’ve also tacked on their own unique touches to the designs: messages of protest, information about immigrants’ rights hotlines, special filament colors.

From Slate ● Jan. 31, 2026

“We have safeguards in place today, such as surfacing crisis hotlines, re-routing sensitive conversations to safer models, nudging for breaks during long sessions, and we’re continuing to strengthen them,” a company spokeswoman said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2025

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