panic button

noun

: something setting off a precipitous emergency response

There was no pushing of panic buttons at the White House, no rushing of troops.

—J. C. Harsch

Examples of panic button in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The crisis alert system Centegix will provide wearable panic buttons to staff members that can notify administrators, call emergency services or put the campus on lockdown. — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Sep. 2026

The money will go to security measures like lighting, locks, panic buttons, fencing and cybersecurity. — Lisa Rozner, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026

Groups can request a maximum of $250,000 each for physical security measures at their facilities like lighting, locks, alarms, panic buttons, fencing, shatter-resistant glass and public address systems. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 8 Sep. 2026

The experts agree that nothing in the data should cause state officials to hit the panic button on the legalization of recreational marijuana. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for panic button

• clutton
• glutton
• mutton
• unbutton