trauma
Americannoun
plural
traumas, traumata-
Pathology.
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a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident.
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the condition produced by this; traumatism.
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Psychiatry.
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an experience that produces psychological injury or pain.
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the psychological injury so caused.
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noun
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psychol a powerful shock that may have long-lasting effects
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pathol any bodily injury or wound
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Severe bodily injury, as from a gunshot wound or a motor vehicle accident.
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Psychological or emotional injury caused by a deeply disturbing experience.
Usage
What does trauma mean? Trauma refers to a sudden, serious body injury or shock, as from violence or an accident, as in The car accident resulted in trauma to the arms and legs of the passenger. Trauma also refers to a serious psychological injury or emotional pain, as from being involved in a disturbing or horrible incident, as in The trauma caused by years of war still gives the soldier nightmares. Trauma is also used to refer to the specific incidents that cause both of these types of serious damage, as in The flood survivors never spoke of the trauma they experienced that day. Example: The victim suffered from internal bleeding caused by repeated trauma to the chest.
Discover More
The term is frequently used to describe an emotional shock that causes serious psychological damage.
Other Word Forms
- traumatic adjective
- traumatically adverb
Etymology
Origin of trauma
First recorded in 1685–95, trauma is from the Greek word traûma wound
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.
By helping patients confront their trauma, she developed a way to give them power over it.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026
"These 42 ft adults, one male and one female, were both malnourished. The male also had significant trauma to the head, consistent with ship strike," it added.
From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026
The number with serious mental health issues, particularly trauma, is also “very high,” they said.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026
"Opera singers, we often carry the heavy grief and drama and trauma in our own work," he said.
From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026
He avidly read books by Robert Lifton, a psychiatrist who worked with trauma patients, including Vietnam veterans.
From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge
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.
