trauma

[ trou-muh, traw- ]

noun

, plural trau·mas, trau·ma·ta [trou, -m, uh, -t, uh, traw, -].

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.

trauma

/ ˈtrɔːmə; trɔːˈmætɪk /

noun

1. psychol a powerful shock that may have long-lasting effects
2. pathol any bodily injury or wound

trauma

/ 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.

trauma

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

Notes

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

Derived Forms

• traumatic, adjective
• trauˈmatically, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of trauma¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of trauma¹

C18: from Greek: a wound

Example Sentences

Argentine officials determined that the singer died from multiple traumas and internal and external bleeding caused by the fall.

From Los Angeles Times

The second miracle attributed to Mr Acutis came in 2024, when a university student in Florence was healed despite having bleeding on the brain after suffering head trauma.

From BBC

“I’m quite cruel to my protagonists. I drag them through the mud, I torture them, they suffer a lot of trauma, but then I reward them at the end.”

From Los Angeles Times

Children experiencing underlying issues, such as anxiety, trauma, or learning challenges, may have more difficulty managing anger, Clark says.

From Science Daily

What was made clear to these women, who must walk around every day of their lives reliving the trauma they survived, is that their terrible experiences don’t matter to at least 76 million Americans.

From Salon

Related Words

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

About This Word

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.

Where does trauma come from?

The first records of trauma come from around 1685. It comes from the Greek word traûma, meaning “wound.” We use the word trauma to refer to both physical and mental wounds and the incidents that cause them.

When it comes to bodily injuries, trauma is often used to refer to especially serious injury to vital organs (organs, like your heart, that you can live without) or significant wounds. You often hear the word trauma used in hospitals, especially when emergency rooms or surgery wards are involved. Trauma is also commonly used in criminal justice situations, as when police discuss violent crimes.

When it comes to psychological or emotional pain, trauma results from extreme events, especially violent ones, such as fighting in a war. Psychological trauma often requires extensive counseling or therapy to lessen the severity. People often suffer from psychological trauma for the rest of their lives.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to trauma?

• traumatic (adjective)
• traumatically (adverb)

What are some synonyms for trauma?

• agony
• anguish
• injury
• suffering
• wound

What are some words that share a root or word element with trauma? 

• traumatic
• traumatism
• traumatize
• traumatology

What are some words that often get used in discussing trauma?

• pain
• injury
• disturbing
• ward
• patient
• head
• relive

How is trauma used in real life?

The word trauma is used to describe especially serious injuries or disturbing incidents.

Update: Briggsmore is close between Lakewood to Claus. Male teen bicyclist suffered from head trauma & was transported to a local hospital

— Modesto Police Dept (@ModestoPolice) November 1, 2011

Psychological trauma tends to activate the limbic or emotional centers of the brain, making you feel constantly on edge. When trauma was severe or prolonged, your limbic brain can get “stuck in overdrive,” increasing the odds you will feel anxious, nervous, tense and sleepless.

— Daniel G. Amen, M.D. (@DocAmen) September 22, 2020

#BREAKING: Halton police say a man was pronounced dead after he was found with obvious signs of trauma to the chest in downtown Oakville.

— CP24 (@CP24) August 25, 2019

 

 

Try using trauma!

Which of the following is a synonym of trauma?

A. wound
B. bruise
C. cut
D. infection