electric shock

American  

noun

electric shocks plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• electric shocks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of electric shock

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

electric shock

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

The Meter Operation Code of Practice Agreement says the plastic casing can "in some circumstances become conductive leading to a risk of electric shock and/or excessive heat".

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2025

Depending on the severity of the crash, an electric vehicle’s high-voltage, lithium ion battery could be at risk of being damaged, catching fire or delivering an electric shock to anyone who touches it.

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