ambulance

American  

[am-byuh-luhns] / ˈæm byə ləns /

noun

1. a specially equipped motor vehicle, airplane, ship, etc., for carrying sick or injured people, usually to a hospital.

2. (formerly) a field hospital.

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ambulance British  

/ ˈæmbjʊləns /

noun

1. a motor vehicle designed to carry sick or injured people

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Etymology

Origin of ambulance

1800–10; < French, equivalent to ( hôpital ) ambul ( ant ) walking (hospital) + -ance -ance. See ambulant

Explanation

An ambulance is an emergency vehicle that transports people to the hospital in emergencies. If you see that someone's been injured in a car accident, it's a good idea to call an ambulance. People who are terribly sick, or who are unexpectedly hurt or injured, often need to get to a hospital quickly, and this is what an ambulance is for. As the patient is driven to a hospital, with the ambulance's lights flashing and siren sounding, he or she is often treated by an emergency medical technician. The word comes from the French phrase hôpital ambulant, or "walking hospital," from the Latin ambulare, "to walk."

Example Sentences

“I saw an ambulance stuck in standstill traffic announcing over a megaphone for pedestrians and vehicles to move out of the way,” Rose wrote.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

Mendoza and two emergency medical professionals who were inside the ambulance were injured and taken to local hospitals, police said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026

Starmer visited the scene of the attacks and a Jewish volunteer ambulance service on Thursday and was booed by some locals, who accused him of not doing enough to protect them.

From Barron's • May 2, 2026

Blain then told Thea's grandmother she had found the baby with a bump on her head - and said she had called an ambulance.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

The first call was from Carl, who had just driven the ambulance back to the station.

From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings