'EMT' is an acronym for 'Emergency Medical Technician', which is a modern English term created from the words 'emergency', 'medical', and 'technician'.

'EMT' was formed in the late 20th century as emergency medical services became more formalized, and the term 'Emergency Medical Technician' was abbreviated to 'EMT' in common usage.

Initially, the term referred specifically to trained personnel providing pre-hospital care, and this meaning has remained consistent.