trauma

American  

[trou-muh, traw-] / ˈtraʊ mə, ˈtrɔ- /

noun

plural

traumas, traumata

1. Pathology.

   1. a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident.

   2. the condition produced by this; traumatism.

2. Psychiatry.

   1. an experience that produces psychological injury or pain.

   2. the psychological injury so caused.

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trauma British  

/ ˈtrɔːmə, trɔːˈmætɪk /

noun

1. psychol a powerful shock that may have long-lasting effects

2. pathol any bodily injury or wound

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trauma Scientific  

/ trô′mə,trou′- /

1. Severe bodily injury, as from a gunshot wound or a motor vehicle accident.

2. Psychological or emotional injury caused by a deeply disturbing experience.

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trauma Cultural  

1. Wounds that result from sudden physical injury or violence.

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Usage

What does trauma mean? Trauma refers to a sudden, serious body injury or shock, as from violence or an accident, as in The car accident resulted in trauma to the arms and legs of the passenger. Trauma also refers to a serious psychological injury or emotional pain, as from being involved in a disturbing or horrible incident, as in The trauma caused by years of war still gives the soldier nightmares. Trauma is also used to refer to the specific incidents that cause both of these types of serious damage, as in The flood survivors never spoke of the trauma they experienced that day. Example: The victim suffered from internal bleeding caused by repeated trauma to the chest.

Discover More

The term is frequently used to describe an emotional shock that causes serious psychological damage.

Other Word Forms

• traumatic adjective
• traumatically adverb

Etymology

Origin of trauma

First recorded in 1685–95, trauma is from the Greek word traûma wound

Explanation

A trauma is a shock to the body or spirit. A car accident can cause physical trauma like broken bones while losing your dog on a walk is an emotional trauma. When you think of trauma think of blunt force. Trauma tends to come on all at once and be quite serious. Someone who experiences trauma will have either a traumatic injury or traumatic distress. Try not to use this term lightly. If you say that having to wait twenty minutes for a burger was a trauma, people will rightly accuse you of drama.

Example Sentences

There are theories that it could be related to autoimmunity, or repeated trauma to that area, or genetic mutations—but no one knows for sure.

From Slate • Apr. 18, 2026

He maintains he has suffered trauma in the years since.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

An endeavor once bathed in excitement and wonder ended in tragedy and trauma for those who witnessed it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

"Our broader analysis of local strandings both inside and outside San Francisco Bay found that over 40% of these whales died of trauma from vessels."

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

The trauma to Manson’s geology had come not from within the Earth, but from at least 100 million miles beyond.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• agony
• anguish
• blow
• confusion
• damage
• injury
• ordeal
• shock
• strain
• stress
• suffering
• torture
• upheaval
• wound