Amber Alert

noun

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

Examples of Amber Alert in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The system is similar to Amber Alert notification system for missing children. —Hannah Pinski, The Courier-Journal, 12 July 2024

Gamble said the Police Department was unable to ask the California Highway Patrol to issue an Amber Alert because the vehicle Camron Lee is believed to be driving had already been spotted crossing the border. —Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 10 July 2024

The same photo appears in various news reports about a January 2020 Amber Alert for 1-week-old Andrew Caballeiro, who was reported missing out of Florida. —Brieanna J. Frank, USA TODAY, 3 July 2024

An Amber Alert was issued for Wilder’s two other children, 3 and 9 years old, Bryant said. —Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 30 June 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