ambulance meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

ambulance

noun

/ˈæm.bjə.ləns/ · /ˈæm.bə.ləns/

Etymology Borrowed from French ambulance, which replaced hôpital ambulant (“moving hospital”) via the suffix -ance, from Latin ambulō (“to walk; to go about”).

An emergency vehicle designed for transporting seriously ill or injured people to a hospital.

The NHS is bracing itself for its worst ever winter crisis descending in the next fortnight because of a worsening “flu-nami” that has left hospitals, GP surgeries and ambulances services under intense strain.2025 December 12, Tobi Thomas, Denis Campbell, “NHS bracing for worst ever winter crisis in next fortnight amid rising flu cases”, in The Guardian:

Government, Military, Politics, War A mobile field hospital.

UK A vehicle used for the transportation of dead people, typically to a mortuary.

UK, Obsolete Synonym of stretcher, a litter used for medical transport.

US, Obsolete Synonym of covered wagon.

Derived terms: air ambulance, amberlamps, ambulance at the bottom of a cliff, ambulance-chase, ambulance chaser, ambulance chasing, ambulance cover, ambulanceman, ambulanceperson, ambulance train, ambulancewoman, ambulette, cabulance, call an ambulance, field ambulance, motor-ambulance, nonambulance, police ambulance, private ambulance, vanbulance, wahmbulance, wambulance
Related terms: ambulant, ambulatory

ambulance

verb

Etymology Borrowed from French ambulance, which replaced hôpital ambulant (“moving hospital”) via the suffix -ance, from Latin ambulō (“to walk; to go about”).

To transport by ambulance.

Ambulancing patients with acute obstruction over cobble and rails should not be tolerated; better render the necessary service where the patient is found.1918, Western Surgical Association: Transactions, volume 27, page 66: