injury
Americannoun
-
injuries
plural
-
harm or damage that is done or sustained.
to escape without injury.
- Synonyms:
- mischief, impairment, ruin, destruction
- Antonyms:
- benefit
-
a particular form or instance of harm.
an injury to one's shoulder; an injury to one's pride.
-
wrong or injustice done or suffered.
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Law. any wrong or violation of the rights, property, reputation, etc., of another for which legal action to recover damages may be made.
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Obsolete. injurious speech; calumny.
noun
-
physical damage or hurt
-
a specific instance of this
a leg injury
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harm done to a reputation
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law a violation or infringement of another person's rights that causes him harm and is actionable at law
-
an obsolete word for insult
Synonym Usage
Injury, hurt, wound refer to impairments or wrongs. Injury, originally denoting a wrong done or suffered, is hence used for any kind of evil, impairment, or loss, caused or sustained: physical injury; injury to one's reputation. Hurt suggests especially physical injury, often bodily injury attended with pain: a bad hurt from a fall. A wound is usually a physical hurt caused by cutting, shooting, etc., or an emotional hurt: a serious wound in the shoulder; to inflict a wound by betraying someone's trust.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of injury
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English injurie, from Latin injūria “unlawful conduct, injustice,” equivalent to in- in- 3 + jūr-, stem of jūs “right, law” ( see jus, just 1) + -ia -ia
Explanation
Injury is a noun with several similar meanings, all involving physical harm or wrongdoing. If you’re not careful, your reckless bike riding could result in a crash that causes injury. Injury often refers to physical damage, but it can be used more figuratively to describe something that's unjust or that causes harm that isn't physical. For example, your estranged grandfather might do you the injury of leaving you out of his will. The word injury comes from in-, meaning “not,” and the Latin root ius or iur, meaning “right.” So an injury is something that's not right — it's something that has gone wrong that leads to damage.
Vocabulary lists containing injury
You Be the Judge: Jud, Jur, Jus
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Negatives with "in"
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That Hurts! Synonyms for "Pain"
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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:
Star receiver Puka Nacua is listed as questionable because of a hip injury.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
Mowbray has had to contend with an injury crisis in the early part of the season, with more than 10 players ruled out in the opening weeks.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
It was the second photo and update posted by Bregman since the gruesome injury occurred.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
Boulter and Kartal were among a list of absentees from that squad - including Emma Raducanu, who is again missing through injury - but the pair's return to the line-up strengthens captain Anne Keothavong's side.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
Despite the surgeon’s best attempts, Roosevelt’s left leg remained prone to infection at the slightest injury.
From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple
Mr Marr said a pathologist concluded Mr Barton's provisional cause of death was due to head and chest injuries.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
Back-to-back playoff appearances suggested there was more to come—especially considering the rash of injuries the team overcame last season.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
For now, the editorial authors suggest shifting more attention and funding toward approaches that have already shown meaningful benefits for preventing falls and related injuries.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 21, 2026
Iamaleava looked much more comfortable and confident in the pocket, despite playing through multiple injuries.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026
All I can think of is Abuela’s warnings about head injuries.
From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina
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.
