electric shock

American  

noun

1. shock.

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electric shock British  

noun

1. Sometimes shortened to: shock.  the physiological reaction, characterized by pain and muscular spasm, to the passage of an electric current through the body. It can affect the respiratory system and heart rhythm

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Etymology

Origin of electric shock

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

These included a food blender which emitted smoke and a hairstyler that could cause an electric shock.

From BBC • Dec. 20, 2025

It was "an electric shock, a wake-up call about what changing our diets can mean for intensive animal farming and for deforestation", said the 63-year-old retiree, who lives in Ermenonville, an hour from Paris.

From Barron's • Oct. 30, 2025

It is often described as a sharp shooting pain or like having an electric shock in the jaw, teeth or gums, according to the NHS.

From BBC • Jul. 15, 2025

There’s also the risk of dangerous electric shock because the vehicles rely on much more electric power than the body can withstand.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2025

But now her eyes shone and her cheeks were rosy; it was possible to believe that if she touched his arm again, he’d get an electric shock.

From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix