emergency

noun

emer·​gen·​cy i-ˈmər-jən(t)-sē 

plural emergencies

often attributive

1

: an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action

2

: an urgent need for assistance or relief

the mayor declared a state of emergency after the flood

Synonyms

• boiling point
• breaking point
• clutch
• conjuncture
• crisis
• crossroad(s)
• crunch
• crunch time
• Dunkirk
• exigency
• extremity
• flash point
• head
• juncture
• tinderbox
• zero hour

Choose the Right Synonym for emergency

juncture, exigency, emergency, contingency, pinch, strait (or straits) crisis mean a critical or crucial time or state of affairs.

juncture stresses the significant concurrence or convergence of events.

an important juncture in our country's history

exigency stresses the pressure of restrictions or urgency of demands created by a special situation.

provide for exigencies

emergency applies to a sudden unforeseen situation requiring prompt action to avoid disaster.

the presence of mind needed to deal with emergencies

contingency implies an emergency or exigency that is regarded as possible but uncertain of occurrence.

contingency plans

pinch implies urgency or pressure for action to a less intense degree than exigency or emergency.

come through in a pinch

strait, now commonly straits, applies to a troublesome situation from which escape is extremely difficult.

in dire straits

crisis applies to a juncture whose outcome will make a decisive difference.

a crisis of confidence

Examples of emergency in a Sentence

Her quick thinking in an emergency saved the baby's life.

an alert, quick-thinking girl who is good to have around in an emergency

Recent Examples on the Web

At the time, a Verizon spokesperson told USA TODAY that the issue was not related to net neutrality court proceedings, but was due to a customer service error, and that Verizon had a practice for removing data restrictions during emergency situations. —Betty Lin-Fisher and Amritpal Kaur Sandhu-Longoria, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024

Keller in a statement said Idaho law should be changed to clearly reflect the attorney general’s claims that doctors will not be prosecuted for acting to preserve a pregnant woman’s health in an emergency. —Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 25 Apr. 2024

This list, called a manifest, helps emergency teams assess the risks posed by the derailment and plan their response accordingly. —The Enquirer, 24 Apr. 2024

Police officers carried Huesca's body to an ambulance, and a long line of emergency vehicles followed it to the Blake-Lamb Funeral Home in the Chicago suburb of Oak Lawn as officers and other first responders lining the route saluted. —Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2024

The aim of the legislation is to ensure that AEDs are readily available and that school staff trained in using the equipment are prepared in the event of a cardiac emergency. —Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 24 Apr. 2024

The first effectively acts as a second pair of eyes for the driver, providing things like automatic emergency braking and lane departure warnings. —IEEE Spectrum, 24 Apr. 2024

Sanders and Bowers roads were closed to everything but emergency vehicles as fire crews continued fighting the blaze. —Arizona Republic, The Arizona Republic, 24 Apr. 2024

Portable generators less than $3,000 are tax-exempt, as are emergency ladders (not extension ladders) and hurricane shutters under $300. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1631, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing emergency

• emergency brake
• emergency contraception
• emergency medical technician
• emergency medicine
• emergency room
• emergency use authorization

Kids Definition

emergency

noun

emer·​gen·​cy i-ˈmər-jən-sē 

plural emergencies

1

: an unexpected situation that calls for immediate action

2

: an urgent need for help

a state of emergency

Medical Definition

emergency

noun

emer·​gen·​cy i-ˈmər-jən-sē 

plural emergencies

: an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action: as

a

: a sudden bodily alteration (as a ruptured appendix or surgical shock) such as is likely to require immediate medical attention

b

: a usually distressing event or condition that can often be anticipated or prepared for but seldom exactly foreseen

Legal Definition

emergency

noun

emer·​gen·​cy

plural emergencies

1

: an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action

2

: an urgent need for assistance or relief

a state of emergency