trauma

American  

[trou-muh, traw-] / ˈtraʊ mə, ˈtrɔ- /

noun

plural

traumas, traumata

1. Pathology.

   1. a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident.

   2. the condition produced by this; traumatism.

2. Psychiatry.

   1. an experience that produces psychological injury or pain.

   2. the psychological injury so caused.

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trauma British  

/ ˈtrɔːmə, trɔːˈmætɪk /

noun

1. psychol a powerful shock that may have long-lasting effects

2. pathol any bodily injury or wound

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trauma Scientific  

/ trô′mə,trou′- /

1. Severe bodily injury, as from a gunshot wound or a motor vehicle accident.

2. Psychological or emotional injury caused by a deeply disturbing experience.

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trauma Cultural  

1. Wounds that result from sudden physical injury or violence.

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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

Explanation

A trauma is a shock to the body or spirit. A car accident can cause physical trauma like broken bones while losing your dog on a walk is an emotional trauma. When you think of trauma think of blunt force. Trauma tends to come on all at once and be quite serious. Someone who experiences trauma will have either a traumatic injury or traumatic distress. Try not to use this term lightly. If you say that having to wait twenty minutes for a burger was a trauma, people will rightly accuse you of drama.

Example Sentences

Their latest comedy project together is about an unlikely friendship between two people who meet at a knee trauma clinic.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

By helping patients confront their trauma, she developed a way to give them power over it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

“There is strong evidence linking repetitive brain trauma and ALS,” McKee said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 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

He’s suffered a great trauma, which has left him weak both mentally and physically.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman

Related Words

• agony
• anguish
• blow
• confusion
• damage
• injury
• ordeal
• shock
• strain
• stress
• suffering
• torture
• upheaval
• wound