concussion
Americannoun
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Pathology. injury to the brain or spinal cord due to jarring from a blow, fall, or the like.
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shock caused by the impact of a collision, blow, etc.
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the act of violently shaking or jarring.
noun
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a jarring of the brain, caused by a blow or a fall, usually resulting in loss of consciousness
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any violent shaking; jarring
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
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.
They include 'smart' gumshields that measure the forces players heads withstand in a tackle, pitchside doctors, mandatory assessments and stand-down periods for players diagnosed with having had a concussion.
From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026
She likes to tell the story of how, after she was treated for a concussion and a broken arm at a local hospital, she wandered the halls confused why nobody was trying to charge her.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026
Tagovailoa, dogged by injuries, suffered a serious concussion early in 2024.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026
The field was reduced to 11 competitors after Canada's Cassie Sharpe was ruled out of the final due to concussion following a heavy crash in qualifying.
From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026
The doctors are more concerned with the damage my brain might have suffered from the explosions, since my concussion hadn’t fully healed to begin with.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
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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.