triage

noun

tri·​age trē-ˈäzh  ˈtrē-ˌäzh 

1

a

: the sorting of and allocation of treatment to patients and especially battle and disaster victims according to a system of priorities designed to maximize the number of survivors

b

: the sorting of patients (as in an emergency room) according to the urgency of their need for care

2

: the assigning of priority order to projects on the basis of where funds and other resources can be best used, are most needed, or are most likely to achieve success

triage transitive verb

Examples of triage in a Sentence

Nurses do triage in the emergency room.

Recent Examples on the Web

High housing costs, rising prices, and student debt have turned what older generations once framed as a time of exploration into a period of relentless financial triage. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2025

Instead of immediately admitting her to labor and delivery, Jones' family says, staff left her in a triage area for more than 30 minutes. —CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025

Dispatch now triages calls, at times asking residents to bring animals to shelters themselves in a bid to cut down on work for officers. —Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Dec. 2025

Some other features include a three-bay area for triage, to sort patients based on the urgency of their needs, and rapid medical exams. —Chase Jordan november 20, Charlotte Observer, 20 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, sorting, sifting, from trier to sort, from Old French — more at try entry 1

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Medical Definition

triage

noun

tri·​age trē-ˈäzh  ˈtrē-ˌ 

1

: the sorting of and allocation of treatment to patients and especially battle and disaster victims according to a system of priorities designed to maximize the number of survivors

2

: the sorting of patients (as in an emergency room) according to the urgency of their need for care

triage transitive verb