concussion

American  

[kuhn-kuhsh-uhn] / kənˈkʌʃ ən /

noun

1. Pathology. injury to the brain or spinal cord due to jarring from a blow, fall, or the like.

2. shock caused by the impact of a collision, blow, etc.

3. the act of violently shaking or jarring.

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concussion British  

/ kənˈkʌʃən /

noun

1. a jarring of the brain, caused by a blow or a fall, usually resulting in loss of consciousness

2. any violent shaking; jarring

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concussion Scientific  

/ kən-kŭsh′ən /

1. An injury to a soft structure, especially the brain, produced by a violent blow or impact and followed by a temporary, sometimes prolonged, loss of function. A concussion of the brain results in transient loss of consciousness or memory.

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Other Word Forms

• concussant
  adjective
• concussional
  adjective
• concussive
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of concussion

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin concussiōn-, stem of concussiō “a shaking,” also “earthquake, extortion”; equivalent to concuss + -ion

Explanation

A concussion is a violent blow, especially to the head, that often injures the brain or causes a loss of consciousness — an all-too-frequent occurrence, unfortunately, in contact sports like football or boxing. First used around 1400, concussion originates from the Latin concussionem, which means "a shaking." Your brain certainly gets "a shaking" when you take a heavy blow to the head, which sometimes causes injury or permanent damage. It's not just people, though, who get concussions; a building can also suffer from a concussion during an earthquake.

Example Sentences

So would forward Ryan Poehling, who has been cleared after incurring a concussion from an illegal hit by Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb, who was suspended for a game.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

Among those taken in are a blind swan, an eagle with an amputated wing and a stork that suffered a concussion during an air attack.

From Barron's • May 20, 2026

Knoxville himself was hospitalized with a brain injury after being flipped by a bull during the filming of 2022’s “Jackass Forever” and has said he can’t risk another concussion.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

The club also confirmed Valverde has been diagnosed with a cranioencephalic trauma, a type of concussion.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

A bandage was wrapped around his curly black hair like he was recovering from a concussion.

From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• bump
• injury
• shock
• trauma