A hotline is a direct telephone line set up for a specific, often urgent purpose. When you call a hotline, you reach people ready to help with a particular problem or provide specific information immediately.

Some hotlines handle emergencies: a poison control hotline connects callers to experts who can give lifesaving advice if someone swallows something dangerous. Crisis hotlines provide immediate help to people facing serious personal problems. Other hotlines serve practical purposes: many companies run customer service hotlines so people can get help with products, and radio stations operate request hotlines where listeners can call to ask for their favorite songs.

During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union established a famous hotline between their leaders. This wasn't actually a telephone but a direct communication line that let the two countries' leaders contact each other instantly during crises, reducing the risk of misunderstandings that could lead to war.

The word hotline suggests immediacy and directness. Unlike regular phone numbers where you might wait on hold or get transferred between departments, a hotline connects you straight to someone who can address your specific need right away. When something is described as a hotline, it means fast, focused help is just a phone call away.