# emergency

/ˈimɝdʒənsi/ (US) · /ɪmˈɜːdʒənsi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/emergency
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. urgent situation

noun · CEFR B1

a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation that requires immediate action.

For teachers: a situation posing an immediate risk to health, life, property, or environment which requires urgent intervention.

- You should only call the police in a real emergency, not for minor problems.
- The pilot declared an emergency after the left engine failed, requesting an immediate clearance to land at the nearest available airstrip.

Usage: Often used as an attributive noun before other nouns like 'exit', 'room', or 'services'.

### 2. hospital department

noun · CEFR B1

the part of a hospital where people go when they need help right away.

For teachers: the department of a healthcare facility providing immediate treatment for acute illnesses and trauma.

- He was rushed to emergency after he fell off his bike and broke his arm.
- The hospital's emergency department was overwhelmed following the multi-car pileup on the motorway during the morning commute.

Usage: Commonly referred to as 'the emergency room' or simply 'emergency'.

### 3. replacement person

noun · CEFR C1 · British English

a person who is called at the last minute to replace someone else in a team or job.

For teachers: a person brought in at short notice to substitute for a staff member or a player in a sporting context.

- The team had to call up an emergency when their main goalkeeper got sick.
- The coach named two emergencies for the final match in case any of the starting players failed their late fitness tests.

Usage: Often used in the context of cricket or other team sports.

### 4. bathroom urgency

noun · CEFR B2 · Humorous · Informal

a sudden and very strong need to use the toilet.

For teachers: a sudden, pressing physiological urge to urinate or defecate.

- We had to stop the car at a petrol station because the toddler had an emergency.
- The long bus journey was made difficult by a passenger who claimed a bathroom emergency every thirty minutes.

Teaching tip: This is a polite or humorous way to describe a bathroom need without being too graphic.

## Examples

- Call the police only if there is a real emergency.
- The hospital staff is trained to stay calm and follow strict protocols during a medical emergency.
- While the government declared a state of emergency to manage the flood, local volunteers provided the immediate logistical support necessary to evacuate the most vulnerable residents.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.