Amber Alert

noun

variants or less commonly Amber alert or amber alert

plural Amber Alerts also Amber alerts or amber alerts

US

: a widely publicized bulletin that alerts the public to a recently abducted or missing child

… State Police activated the Amber Alert in search of a male infant who they believed was kidnapped …

—Fall River (Massachusetts) News

State Police put out an Amber alert …

—Travis Andersen

… sends a text message … for emergency alerts (like hurricanes and amber alerts) …

—Greg Ganske

Amber Alerts are issued when a child under 18 is abducted and believed to be in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death.

—Anthony Maenza

compare blue alert, silver alert

Examples of Amber Alert in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Authorities announced that the Amber Alert was canceled, and the case has shifted from a missing person investigation to a death investigation. —Vanessa Swales, Journal Sentinel, 14 Sep. 2024

The Amber Alert issued for the toddler has now been canceled. —Zoe Sottile, CNN, 13 Sep. 2024

After an Amber Alert was issued, a citizen recognized the vehicle Plummer was driving and alerted the authorities. —Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 16 Aug. 2024

The Amber Alert was issued early Sunday morning after authorities say four unknown men in a gray Dodge Durango with a Michigan license plate EAD 187, shot and killed a man who was with a woman and toddler at approximately 10:09 p.m. Saturday night, police said. —Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 21 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

from the U.S. Justice Department AMBER Alert Program that issues such bulletins, originally from Amber Hagerman †1996 U.S. victim of an abduction, later read as an acronym for America's Missing Broadcast Emergency Response

First Known Use

1997, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

Amber alert

noun

: a widely publicized bulletin that alerts the public to a recently abducted or missing child

Legal Definition

Amber Alert

noun

: a widely publicized bulletin that alerts the public to a recently abducted or missing child

Etymology

from the U.S. Justice Dept. AMBER Alert Program that issues such bulletins, originally from Amber Hagerman †1996 victim of an abduction, later read as America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response