Silver Alert

[ sil-ver uh-lert ]

noun

1. 1. a public alert system that uses broadcast media, text messages, and electronic billboards to spread information about missing persons who are over 65 years of age or have specific cognitive or developmental disabilities.
   2. a public message or announcement that uses this system.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Silver Alert¹

First recorded in 2000–05

Example Sentences

According to Ms Nunez, her child was the first in Arizona to receive a silver alert, a rare emergency notification for missing persons with "specific cognitive or developmental disabilities" and seniors.

From BBC

“Biden will be enlisting hundreds of TikTok stars and social media influencers to push his propaganda out to young people. Silly us, we thought he was busy working to ban TikTok since it’s a security threat and stuff — but apparently President Silver Alert discovered he may want to use the platform to indoctrinate young people into voting away their lives and money to support him,” quipped Twitchy.com.

From Washington Times

They relied on the family to do most of the work looking for the two and did not post a silver alert for eight days, he said.

From Seattle Times

With a statewide Silver Alert in effect, Amanda McFarland then publicly pleaded with people nearby to check where her mom’s phone last pinged off a curve on the Blewett Pass between Ellensburg and Leavenworth.

From Seattle Times

Indiana State police on Friday finally canceled a Silver Alert for 14-year-old Aaliyah Ramiraz, who had last been seen in Syracuse, Indiana on April 27.

From Fox News