false alarm
noun
1
: an alarm (such as a fire or burglar alarm) that is set off needlessly
2
: something causing alarm or excitement that proves to be unfounded
Examples of false alarm in a Sentence
A false alarm drew firefighters to the school.
The report that the factory would be closing was a false alarm.
He thought he might be having a heart attack, but his chest pains were just a false alarm.
Recent Examples on the Web
The hospital group could not confirm if the false alarm was due to human error.
—
David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Jan. 2026
Occasional false alarms can happen, especially near kitchens, bathrooms or garages, but frequent alarms often signal a placement or maintenance issue that needs attention.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 20 Jan. 2026
The most precise systems employ sophisticated algorithms trained on thousands of realistic fall scenarios, which provide excellent detection of actual-world falls and minimal false alarms.
—Craig Lebrau, USA Today, 19 Jan. 2026
Is the slippage a real phenomenon or just a false alarm?
—Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for false alarm
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David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Jan. 2026
Occasional false alarms can happen, especially near kitchens, bathrooms or garages, but frequent alarms often signal a placement or maintenance issue that needs attention.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 20 Jan. 2026
The most precise systems employ sophisticated algorithms trained on thousands of realistic fall scenarios, which provide excellent detection of actual-world falls and minimal false alarms.
—Craig Lebrau, USA Today, 19 Jan. 2026
Is the slippage a real phenomenon or just a false alarm?
—Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for false alarm
Cite this Entry
“False alarm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/false%20alarm. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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