concussion
Americannoun
-
concussions
plural
-
Pathology. injury to the brain or spinal cord due to jarring from a blow, fall, or the like.
-
shock caused by the impact of a collision, blow, etc.
-
the act of violently shaking or jarring.
noun
-
a jarring of the brain, caused by a blow or a fall, usually resulting in loss of consciousness
-
any violent shaking; jarring
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
Vocabulary lists containing concussion
"All Summer in a Day" by Ray Bradbury
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Drama
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Game Changer
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
In an earlier statement, McConnell claimed he didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
"Mr Kneeland played in the modern era of concussion protocols and better helmets, and yet he still developed CTE," said Dr Chris Nowinski, co-founder and CEO of the Concussion & CTE Foundation.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
In 2023, McConnell tripped, sustained a concussion, and was away from the Senate for nearly six weeks.
From Slate ● Jul. 2, 2026
Catcher Dalton Rushing was replaced behind the plate by Chuckie Robinson in the bottom of the third inning so the team could check Rushing for a possible concussion.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026
Each concussion threw him, staggering, and he watched in sick astonishment as the cracks grew to gaping rifts wide enough to swallow a man.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
The “why” could be bad luck, better awareness in diagnosing concussions or something else.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 14, 2026
New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State — Chris Olave has been great for the Saints, but he’s prone to concussions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026
He sustained four concussions in six years, and met with doctors to see if he could continue his football career.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 9, 2026
"I had been hiding concussions and neurological injuries for so long that it just became part of it," she said.
From BBC ● Feb. 19, 2026
He told us about Mr. Terupt’s wrestling and concussions and it not being all Peter’s fault.
From "Because of Mr. Terupt" by Rob Buyea
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
