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
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
Andrea Davis, president and CEO of The Resiliency Initiative, has spent 25 years planning emergency response and crisis management for organizations including Disney, Walmart, the FIFA World Cup and Times Square's New Year's Eve celebration.
—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
4 July 2026
The sheriff's office initiated an emergency call-in of all off-duty deputies and requested mutual aid from Rock, Kenosha and Jefferson counties and the Wisconsin State Patrol and DNR.
—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
4 July 2026
Rodríguez said emergency economic measures will include relief funds for victims and temporary waivers on documentation and property registration fees to facilitate housing relocation.
—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
3 July 2026
Newer models have advanced driver-assistance features, such as automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist and blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts.
—
Chris Teague,
AJC.com,
3 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for emergency
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show current usage.
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Bryan West,
USA Today,
4 July 2026
The sheriff's office initiated an emergency call-in of all off-duty deputies and requested mutual aid from Rock, Kenosha and Jefferson counties and the Wisconsin State Patrol and DNR.
—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
4 July 2026
Rodríguez said emergency economic measures will include relief funds for victims and temporary waivers on documentation and property registration fees to facilitate housing relocation.
—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
3 July 2026
Newer models have advanced driver-assistance features, such as automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist and blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts.
—
Chris Teague,
AJC.com,
3 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for emergency
Cite this Entry
“Emergency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emergency. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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