Definition, synonyms and related words
A telephone line that is always staffed and able to give immediate assistance.
"The city established a 24-hour hotline for residents who need immediate police assistance during emergencies."
In plain English: A hotline is a special phone line that people can call to get immediate help or report something important directly.
"The charity runs a 24-hour hotline for people in crisis to call anytime they need help."
Usage: A hotline refers specifically to a dedicated phone line available around the clock for urgent or confidential communication, such as those used by government agencies or customer support teams. While you can use "hotline" as a verb meaning to contact this specific channel, it is distinct from general telephone calls that are not staffed continuously.
To communicate over a telephone hotline.
"The emergency operator instructed us to call the police on the dedicated hotline immediately."
In plain English: To call someone on an emergency phone line to get immediate help.
"The company asked every manager to hotline their concerns directly to HR."
The term combines the words "hot" and "line," referring to a telephone connection that is always active or ready for immediate use. It entered English as a direct description of this specific type of dedicated communication channel.