Dictionary

911 en · PROPN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˌnaɪ̯n wən ˈwən/ (General-American)

Etymology

Chosen by the United States in the 1960s in place of the older British 999 number as a better way to avoid accidental calls from push-button telephones. It is officially pronounced "nine-one-one" and not "nine-eleven;" the latter refers to the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York and Washington, but the pronunciation "nine-one-one" for the phone number was universal even prior to the attacks. 9/11 is universally distinguished from 911 to refer the September 11 attacks. Officially written as 9-1-1 in regulations and materials from the United States National Emergency Number Association and Federal Communications Commission, which is also advocated by some media style guides.

Meanings

1. The telephone number for emergency services in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Liberia, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Anguilla, Palau, and Tonga.
   • Well, look, I wear a mask, I try not to be a maskhole about it. If I see — if I see somebody who doesn't have a mask, I don't call 911. 2021 March 18, John Kennedy, quotee, “SEN. JOHN KENNEDY (R-LA) IS INTERVIEWED ON FOX NEWS”, in Political Transcript Wire, Lanham:
   • Many still assume that “you call 988 and — much like 911 — that means someone is going to be dispatched to you,” said Hannah Wesolowski, NAMI’s chief advocacy officer. “For the vast majority — almost all callers — that’s not actually the case.” 2023 July 13, Christina Caron, “Is the New 988 Suicide Hotline Working?”, in The New York Times:
   • I don't know why they couldn't just keep it as it was! How hard is it to remember 911? You mean 999... I mean 999! That's the American one! Yeah! 2006 Feb. 3, Graham Linehan, The IT Crowd, Season 1, Episode 2
   • After witnessing what was possibly a robbery, she called 911.
   • When you call 911 in the United States, a local dispatcher usually answers the phone with "911" or "911. What's your emergency?"

Forms

Coordinates

411 · other short telephone numbers · 999 · 811 · 995 · 119 · 110 · 112 · 311 · 111 · emergency services · 000 · 105 (Mongolia)

Relateds

E911

wikipedia: National Emergency Number Association · wikipedia: United States · wikipedia: Federal Communications Commission · wikipedia: 9/11 attacks