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

In 2017, NHS England and the Royal College of Psychiatrists pledged to stop practising conversion therapy, including electric shock treatment.

From BBC • Dec. 5, 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

On doorsteps, put down mats that cause a mild electric shock when a bear steps on them; they’re called “unwelcome mats.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 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

I never got used to that feeling—no one ever does—but I did experience it many times, and eventually learned what it was: electric shock.

From "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien