ambulance
Americannoun
-
ambulances
plural
-
a specially equipped motor vehicle, airplane, ship, etc., for carrying sick or injured people, usually to a hospital.
-
(formerly) a field hospital.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing ambulance
Walk the Walk: Amb
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
English Words Derived from French, List 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
National Nurses Week: Tasks and Equipment
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A surfer in his fifties was rushed to hospital on Monday after being bitten by a shark in Western Australia, the state government and local ambulance service said.
From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026
Officials also changed how patients experiencing ectopic pregnancy symptoms are prioritized when they call for an ambulance, leading to faster response times.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026
An air ambulance was sent to the scene but the child was pronounced dead by paramedics a short time later, Staffordshire Police said.
From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026
The agency responded with an ambulance, a medic engine and two air ambulances.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
Before a policeman closed the back doors of the ambulance, Carl shouted, “We’ve got a pulse!”
From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings
Images on Swiss news sites show a coach lying on its side beside a narrow country road on which stand numerous ambulances while groups of rescuers work at the scene.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
Lih said inspiration for his design came from a sink plunger from Home Depot and suction devices in ambulances.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
The agency responded with an ambulance, a medic engine and two air ambulances.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
Helicopters and coastguard boats have been dispatched to the scene, while ambulances have been stationed on the beach.
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026
At 1:25, two ambulances arrived at the jail.
From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
