injury
Americannoun
-
injuries
plural
-
harm or damage that is done or sustained.
to escape without injury.
- Synonyms:
- mischief, impairment, ruin, destruction
- Antonyms:
- benefit
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a particular form or instance of harm.
an injury to one's shoulder; an injury to one's pride.
-
wrong or injustice done or suffered.
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Law. any wrong or violation of the rights, property, reputation, etc., of another for which legal action to recover damages may be made.
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Obsolete. injurious speech; calumny.
noun
-
physical damage or hurt
-
a specific instance of this
a leg injury
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harm done to a reputation
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law a violation or infringement of another person's rights that causes him harm and is actionable at law
-
an obsolete word for insult
Synonym Usage
Injury, hurt, wound refer to impairments or wrongs. Injury, originally denoting a wrong done or suffered, is hence used for any kind of evil, impairment, or loss, caused or sustained: physical injury; injury to one's reputation. Hurt suggests especially physical injury, often bodily injury attended with pain: a bad hurt from a fall. A wound is usually a physical hurt caused by cutting, shooting, etc., or an emotional hurt: a serious wound in the shoulder; to inflict a wound by betraying someone's trust.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of injury
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English injurie, from Latin injūria “unlawful conduct, injustice,” equivalent to in- in- 3 + jūr-, stem of jūs “right, law” ( see jus, just 1) + -ia -ia
Explanation
Injury is a noun with several similar meanings, all involving physical harm or wrongdoing. If you’re not careful, your reckless bike riding could result in a crash that causes injury. Injury often refers to physical damage, but it can be used more figuratively to describe something that's unjust or that causes harm that isn't physical. For example, your estranged grandfather might do you the injury of leaving you out of his will. The word injury comes from in-, meaning “not,” and the Latin root ius or iur, meaning “right.” So an injury is something that's not right — it's something that has gone wrong that leads to damage.
Vocabulary lists containing injury
You Be the Judge: Jud, Jur, Jus
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Negatives with "in"
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That Hurts! Synonyms for "Pain"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Rolder also suffered a hamstring injury on the play and did not return to the game.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026
He scored twice in 22 games for Everton last season during a loan spell which was cut short by injury.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026
Jackson’s injury creates a fresh opportunity for the agents of cobwebbed quarterbacks looking for a home.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
Cornerback Jaylen Watson also left because of a shoulder injury.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026
Garfield asked Bliss how serious the injury was.
From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow
Alcaraz is seen as the most naturally gifted player on the ATP Tour, having dominated the biggest tournaments alongside Jannik Sinner before their respective injuries this season.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026
As for Jackson, it’s the latest setback in a career in which stretches of brilliance have been undermined by repeated injuries and absences.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
Cornerbacks McDuffie and Jaylen Watson both left against the Chargers because of back and shoulder injuries, respectively.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026
But following a security clampdown and serious injuries to some protesters, the movement broadened its demands to include greater protection of civil liberties and the right to protest.
From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2026
Anyone who believes that new benefits make men of high station forget old injuries deceives himself.
From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
