collision

American  

[kuh-lizh-uhn] / kəˈlɪʒ ən /

noun

1. the act of colliding; a coming violently into contact; crash.

   the collision of two airplanes.

2. a clash; conflict.

   a collision of purposes.

3. Physics. the meeting of particles or of bodies in which each exerts a force upon the other, causing the exchange of energy or momentum.

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collision British  

/ kəˈlɪʒən /

noun

1. a violent impact of moving objects; crash

2. the conflict of opposed ideas, wishes, attitudes, etc

   a collision of interests

3. physics an event in which two or more bodies or particles come together with a resulting change of direction and, normally, energy

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• collisional
  adjective
• anticollision
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of collision

1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin collīsiōn- (stem of collīsiō ), equivalent to collīs ( us ) (past participle of collīdere to collide ) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

A collision is when two or more things smash together. You shouldn't give yourself a pedicure while driving because it might result in a collision, wrecking your car and spoiling your toenail polish to boot. Collision comes from the Latin col-, "together," and lædĕre, "to hurt by striking." When a train hits a car, that's a collision. An asteroid hurtling toward earth is on a "collision course" with our planet. Collision also works for abstract conflicts that get violent or hurt your brain somehow, like the collision between two politicians during a debate, or the collision of colors in your outfit.

Example Sentences

In 2021, Musk dismissed the collision concerns: “Space is just extremely enormous,” he said, “and satellites are very tiny.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

Essex Police said the driver of a Ford KA, 18, was arrested in connection with the collision and later released under investigation.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says he doesn’t expect Max Muncy to miss any time following the third baseman’s violent collision with Arizona’s Ildemaro Vargas.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026

Mainstone said the trial would also hear from a collision investigator who would say the road surface at the location was dry and in a good state of repair at the time of the crash.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

LeMay’s view of the Cold War was driven by the assumption that the Soviet Union and the United States were on a collision course.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin