emergency room

noun

: a hospital room or area staffed and equipped for the reception and treatment of persons requiring immediate medical care

Examples of emergency room in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For years, the Knights have treated quarterback less like a position and more like an emergency room. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026 Common Injuries Incurred After an Accident Most crashes are only small incidents; not every collision is sending someone to the emergency room. — Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 The openness of the set is designed to feel like a real emergency room while granting cameras the freedom to move without restriction. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026 Instead, its goals include preventing or reducing sudden unexpected infant deaths and youth drownings, emergency room visits for motor vehicle crashes, and hospitalizations for traumatic brain injuries. — Yona Gavino, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for emergency room

Word History

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of emergency room was in 1886

Rhymes for emergency room

See All Rhymes for emergency room

Browse Nearby Words

emergency power
emergency room
emergency use authorization
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Emergency room.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emergency%20room. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

emergency room

noun
: a hospital room or area with doctors, nurses, and medical equipment for treating persons needing immediate medical care

Medical Definition

emergency room

noun
: a hospital room or area staffed and equipped for the reception and treatment of persons with conditions (as illness or trauma) requiring immediate medical care
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All