emergency

noun
e·mer·gen·cy
/ɪˈmɜː(ɹ).dʒən.si/

A situation which poses an immediate risk and which requires urgent attention.

Example

“Cardiac arrest is an emergency requiring medical attention.”

Other meanings

The department of a hospital that treats emergencies.
A person brought in at short notice to replace a member of staff, a player in a sporting team, etc.

Synonyms

pinch

Related words

accident and emergency
climate emergency
emergency brake
emergency cord
emergency department
emergency dispatch center
emergency parking bay
emergency entrance
emergency escape
emergency exit
emergency goalie
emergency hammer

Example sentences

“Where can I get an emergency supply of medicine?”
Tatoeba · Igider · CC0
“I don't think it's an emergency, but it could become one.”
Tatoeba · shekitten · CC0

Word history

From Latin "emergens".

Where this comes from

This definition is adapted from “emergency” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; example sentences are from Tatoeba, credited to their authors above; related-word lists use Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0, based on Princeton WordNet), published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.