emergency

American  

[ih-mur-juhn-see] / ɪˈmɜr dʒən si /

noun

• emergencies
  plural

1. a sudden, urgent, usually unexpected occurrence or occasion requiring immediate action.

   Synonyms:

   plight, quandary, pinch, extremity, exigency

2. a state, especially of need for help or relief, created by some unexpected event.

   a weather emergency; a financial emergency.

3. emergency room.

   Bring him to emergency—the doctor will meet you there.

---

adjective

1. granted, used, or for use in an emergency.

   an emergency leave; emergency lights.

emergency British  

/ ɪˈmɜːdʒənsɪ /

noun

1. 1. an unforeseen or sudden occurrence, esp of a danger demanding immediate remedy or action

   2. ( as modifier )

      an emergency exit

2. 1. a patient requiring urgent treatment

   2. ( as modifier )

      an emergency ward

3. a condition, declared by a government, in which martial law applies, usually because of civil unrest or natural disaster

4. a player selected to stand by to replace an injured member of a team; reserve

---

Usage

What is an emergency? An emergency is an unexpected or urgent event that demands immediate attention. The event is often a serious or dangerous situation, such as not being able to breathe or a fire burning in one’s home. An emergency is similar to a crisis. In both situations, there is danger that needs to be resolved. An emergency often requires a faster response than a crisis because the danger is more immediate. A crisis may allow more time for planning. For example, being without a job can be a crisis if you already have some money to pay your bills with while you look for a new job. A job loss becomes an emergency when you don’t have any money to pay your bills. There are many types of emergencies. You might experience a medical emergency, in which you need medical help right away. You might have a family emergency, in which you need to help someone in your family right away. Weather emergencies are situations in which weather is so severe that it could harm the people experiencing it. A snowstorm, tornado, and hurricane are all examples of weather emergencies. As a noun, emergency can also be used to refer to the emergency department of a hospital. In this department, often called the ER (for emergency room) or A&E (for accident and emergency), patients with sudden and serious illnesses or injuries are treated quickly. As an adjective, emergency can be used to describe anything that requires attention that would be considered an emergency or that resolves an emergency. Your emergency savings, for example, would be money you saved solely for use in an emergency, such as suddenly needing to buy a new car. Emergency responders are people who respond in an emergency, such as firefighters and medical staff. As well, the Emergency Alert System is a national warning system used to warn people of events like hurricanes, child abductions, and evacuations. Example: The Hernandezes prepare for weather emergencies by stocking up on batteries, candles, and packaged foods.

Synonym Usage

Emergency, crisis, straits refer to dangerous situations. An emergency is a situation demanding immediate action: A power failure created an emergency in transportation. A crisis is a vital or decisive turning point in a condition or state of affairs, and everything depends on the outcome of it: Help arrived when affairs had reached a crisis. Strait (usually straits ) suggests a pressing situation, often one of need or want: The family was in desperate straits for food and clothing.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonemergency
  adjective
• postemergency
  adjective
• preemergency
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• emergencies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of emergency

First recorded in 1625–35; from Medieval Latin ēmergentia, equivalent to ēmerg- ( see emerge) + -entia noun suffix ( see -ency); see also emergent

Explanation

When there's an emergency, the stakes are high and you may need to act quickly. There's a tornado! Someone's collapsed! The cat's stuck in a tree! It's an emergency! Call 911! You can see the word emerge in emergency, and an emergency suddenly emerges — it happens all of a sudden and can take you by surprise. Governments declare a "state of emergency" if there is a disaster that they can't handle, and they need support. If you hear sirens and see flashing lights, there's probably an emergency . . . unless you're in a dance club.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

emergency emergencies

The government advises people to keep emergency alerts switched on as they "contain life-saving information".

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026

On Saturday in Carmel, Ind., emergency officials relocated about 40 residents from their homes amid flooding and helped move residents and staff from a senior living facility, Mayor Sue Finkam said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

Fumes have travelled into the neighbouring Namur province, where authorities had to ask residents to stop saturating emergency phone lines with reports of the smell.

From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026

In May, Tyler was placed into an induced coma after having emergency intestinal surgery in Portugal, but later died "as a result of the illness that she was being treated for", her family said.

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026

The emergency response team believed unit 2 was in greater danger, and the team members had focused their attention there.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland

You’re envisioning a future in which you might have $100,000 of emergencies.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026

That is enough to help utilities power through dayslong grid emergencies, such as a winter storm.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

Dr. Falkenberg said preparing before emergencies happen could make communities more resilient as marine heatwaves become increasingly severe.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026

The unusual intensity of some of the fires underlines the increasing risk the continent faces as climate change parches vegetation and makes the emergencies more extreme, scientists say.

From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026

He tried to imagine a life where every dollar wasn’t set aside for groceries or rent or emergencies.

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty

Related Words

• accident
• crunch
• difficulty
• necessity
• tension