noun

emergency

ih-MUR-juhn-see

noun

A sudden, serious situation that requires immediate action.

"Call 999 in case of a medical emergency."

"The government declared a state of emergency after the floods."

The department of a hospital that treats people needing urgent medical care.

"They rushed him to emergency after the accident."

How to Use Emergency

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA sudden crisis needing urgent attention, or the part of a hospital that handles urgent cases.

UK vs US

In UK English the hospital department is usually called "A&E" (Accident & Emergency); in US English it's the "ER" or "emergency room."

Common pairings

medical emergency emergency room state of emergency in case of emergency

emergencies plural

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Call 999 in case of a medical _____.

From Medieval Latin emergentia, "an unforeseen occurrence," from Latin emergens, present participle of emergere, "to arise, come forth."

agency urgency potency decency regency currency tendency clemency leniency frequency residency indecency