Eas

/iːz/ noun

Definition

Emergency Alert System, a national public warning system used by authorized officials to deliver important emergency information to the public. It can interrupt regular broadcasting to transmit critical alerts about weather, security threats, or other emergencies.

Etymology

Acronym formed from Emergency Alert System, established in the United States in 1997. It replaced the earlier Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) and represents an evolution of civil defense communication systems developed during the Cold War era.

Kelly Says

The distinctive two-tone alert sound that precedes EAS broadcasts was specifically designed to grab human attention - it's mathematically calculated to be one of the most jarring and unmistakable audio signatures possible. This same alert tone can trigger anxiety in many people even when heard outside of actual emergencies.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.