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 …

—Herald News (Fall River, MA)

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

The Sherburne County sheriff’s office says a 7-year-old girl was found safe by law enforcement following an Amber Alert late Wednesday night. —Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026

Lois Smart worked alongside Ed to advocate for the passage of the National Amber Alert system. —Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026

An Amber Alert was issued for the 18-month-old child, and police located the Honda and took Akbari into custody that same day. —Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 17 Jan. 2026

Northern California authorities have called off an Amber Alert early Thursday after a 5-year-old child suspected of being abducted from Calaveras County was located with his father. —Sacbee.com, 25 Dec. 2025

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