SOS was introduced for emergency maritime radio communication using Morse code. Radio (initially known as "wireless telegraphy") was developed in the late 1890s, and was quickly …

The meaning of SOS is an internationally recognized signal of distress in radio code - - - used especially by ships calling for help.

SOS is not an acronym, although it has sometimes been treated as one in popular imagination; “save our ship” and “save our souls” are the most common suggested “meanings” for the …

Mar 28, 2025 · What does SOS mean? According to Merriam-Webster, SOS is “an internationally recognized signal of distress in radio code, used especially by ships calling for help.”

Jul 12, 2024 · SOS is a universal distress signal used in emergencies to signal for help. The letters SOS do not stand for anything specific; they were chosen for their simplicity and clarity …

May 12, 2023 · So what does "SOS" actually mean? Here's everything you need to know about the term and its military origins, plus the new feature on your iPhone that utilizes it for your safety.

/ ˈesˌoʊˈes / Add to word list (esp. from a boat or ship) an urgent request for help (Definition of SOS from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

An SOS is a signal which indicates to other people that you are in danger and need help quickly. The ferry did not even have time to send out an SOS.

Jul 29, 2025 · By 1918, the term “SOS” had moved beyond its maritime origins and began to be used figuratively. It became a general expression for any urgent appeal for help, no longer …

SOS definition: shit on a shingle (a euphemistic initialism used to avoid explicit vulgarity). See examples of SOS used in a sentence.