Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

traumatic brain injury

American  
[traw-mat-ik breyn in-juh-ree, truh-mat-ik] / trɔˈmæt ɪk ˈbreɪn ˌɪn dʒə ri, trəˈmæt ɪk /

noun

Medicine/Medical.
  1. damage to the brain from a source outside the body, such as an object that strikes the head violently or penetrates the skull, which causes symptoms ranging from headache and dizziness to permanent physical or mental disability: TBI

    After the car accident, he was diagnosed with a severe traumatic brain injury that greatly affected his memory and ability to concentrate.


Etymology

Origin of traumatic brain injury

First recorded in 1890–95

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:

Issues such as having a parent or sibling with dementia, as well as traumatic brain injury, increase your overall dementia risk, however.

From MarketWatch Aug. 17, 2026

In his early sixties, Rob Kaufman suffered a medical emergency that caused him to faint and hit his head on a wood floor, resulting in a traumatic brain injury.

From Barron's Jun. 15, 2026

Sanders suffered injuries, including a concussion, headaches, possible traumatic brain injury, back and tailbone injuries and extreme mental anguish.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 17, 2026

The partner of a man who suffered a traumatic brain injury in the Nottingham attacks has said the organisations involved in a public inquiry have "tortured" the victims' families "over and over again".

From BBC Mar. 26, 2026

I want to tell her that my memory is hacked, that I have a traumatic brain injury.

From "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training