distress call: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical
Quick answer
What does “distress call” mean?
A desperate signal or message requesting immediate help or rescue in a serious emergency situation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A desperate signal or message requesting immediate help or rescue in a serious emergency situation.
Any urgent communication indicating severe trouble, often used metaphorically for non-literal appeals for assistance (e.g., in business or personal contexts).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical differences. Both use 'distress call'. The associated protocols (e.g., 'Mayday' vs. 'Pan-Pan') are internationally standardized.
Connotations
Identical serious connotations. Possibly more maritime association in British English due to island history.
Frequency
Comparable frequency. Slightly higher in American media due to greater volume of disaster/action genres.
Grammar
How to Use “distress call” in a Sentence
The captain issued a distress call.A distress call was received from the vessel.We picked up their distress call on Channel 16.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “distress call” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The yacht was forced to distress-call the coastguard when its engine failed.
- They distress-called for a medevac.
American English
- The hiker used his satellite phone to distress-call park rangers.
- The pilot distress-called the tower.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; no adverbial form in use)
American English
- (Not standard; no adverbial form in use)
adjective
British English
- The distress-call procedure was followed precisely.
- A distress-call frequency is monitored 24/7.
American English
- The distress-call response time was critical.
- They reviewed the distress-call protocol.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorically used: 'The CEO's memo was a distress call about the company's finances.'
Academic
Used in maritime law, aviation studies, and disaster response literature.
Everyday
Understood but rarely used in daily conversation outside of news reports about emergencies.
Technical
Specific term in maritime, aviation, and emergency services. Governed by international protocols (GMDSS, COSPAS-SARSAT).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “distress call”
- Using 'distress call' for a worrying phone call from a friend ('I got a distressed call from him' is better). Confusing with 'distress signal' (which can be visual, like a flare).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while its most classic use is maritime and aviation, it can be used for any serious emergency where help is summoned via communication (e.g., a stranded hiker, a trapped miner).
'SOS' is a specific, internationally recognized Morse code distress signal (...---...). 'Distress call' is the general term for any vocal or digital message requesting emergency aid. 'Mayday' is the vocal equivalent for life-threatening emergencies.
Yes, though it's less common and somewhat informal/jargonistic (e.g., 'We need to distress-call headquarters'). The standard phrasing is 'to send/make/issue a distress call'.
Internationally, there is a legal and moral obligation for any station receiving a legitimate distress call to acknowledge it and assist if able. Ignoring a known distress call is a serious breach of maritime and aviation law.
A desperate signal or message requesting immediate help or rescue in a serious emergency situation.
Distress call is usually formal, technical in register.
Distress call: in British English it is pronounced /dɪˈstres kɔːl/, and in American English it is pronounced /dɪˈstres kɔːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Send out an SOS (related, but SOS is a specific type of distress signal)”
- “Cry for help (metaphorical)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a ship in DIS-tress (terrible stress) that needs to CALL for help.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATION IS A LIFELINE; URGENCY IS A LOUD SOUND.
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario would the term 'distress call' be LEAST appropriate?