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

The new maternity ward, which was filled to the brim with boxes when the county took over operations, has six delivery rooms, 13 post-delivery rooms, four triage rooms and a six-bed neonatal intensive care unit. —Grace Hase, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025

Color night vision keeps tabs after lights out, while instant barking or meowing alerts help triage what needs attention. —PC Magazine, 13 Oct. 2025

The researchers of the new study also defined time to first dose of pain medication as time from triage to receipt of pain medication rather than time from arrival at the ED to receipt of medication, which may underestimate overall delays, according to the team. —Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025

On autopilot The NGC Cinema-Grand Blanc Trillium, about three-quarters of a mile away on Holly Road, became a triage and reunification site for church members who escaped the attack. —Georgea Kovanis, Freep.com, 5 Oct. 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