Code Red

noun

variants or code red

plural Code Reds or code reds

1

: a declaration or state of emergency in a hospital when smoke or fire has been detected

2

: an officially declared emergency situation (such as a hazardous weather event) that requires action to ensure safety

If residents see a person who appears unhoused during a Code Red, they are urged to request a street outreach team by contacting the city's Homeless Outreach hotline …

—Zoë Read et al.

also : a warning of such a situation

There were no notifications, no warning sirens, no Code Reds issued.

—The Houston Chronicle

(figurative) But the Code Red isn't just for Newark: The whole country faces a critical lack of air-traffic controllers, with the Federal Aviation Administration looking to hire another 3,000 …

—The New York Post

Examples of Code Red in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Allin was able to pull off an incredible Code Red on the table, which didn’t give an inch. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 30 Apr. 2026

Lee hit a Code Red on the mat and almost won via countout. —Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 3 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1957, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for Code Red

• abovesaid
• aforesaid
• arrowhead
• casinghead
• copperhead
• figurehead
• fountainhead
• gingerbread
• hammerhead
• infrared
• leatherhead
• letterhead