# hotline

/ˈhɑtˌɫaɪn/ (US) · /hˈɒtlaɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hotline
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. help or advice line

noun · CEFR B1

a telephone number that is always open to give people help or information about a specific problem.

For teachers: a telephone service providing immediate assistance, information, or support, often staffed twenty-four hours a day.

- The government set up a special hotline for people who had questions about the new tax laws.
- The charity operates a twenty-four-hour crisis hotline to provide immediate psychological support for those experiencing domestic distress.

### 2. direct emergency link

noun · CEFR B2

a direct phone line between leaders of different countries to be used during an emergency.

For teachers: a direct, secure communication link between heads of state or high-ranking officials, intended for use during international crises.

- During the Cold War, a famous hotline connected the leaders of the US and the Soviet Union.
- Diplomatic tensions were eased when the two presidents used the secure hotline to clarify their military intentions and avoid an accidental escalation.

### 3. to call a hotline

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to call or communicate using a special help line.

For teachers: to transmit information or communicate via a dedicated hotline service.

- Witnesses were encouraged to hotline any information they had about the crime to the police.
- The agency established a protocol where field agents could hotline urgent intelligence directly to the central command centre during active operations.

## Examples

- The city set up a hotline for reporting power outages.
- The government launched a 24-hour hotline to provide citizens with immediate updates during the national health crisis.
- Establishing a dedicated crisis hotline proved essential for the non-profit, as it allowed trained counselors to intervene immediately when callers were in acute psychological distress.

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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.