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trigger warning

American

[trig-er wawr-ning] / ˈtrɪg ər ˌwɔr nɪŋ /

noun

a stated warning that the content of the immediately following text, video, etc., may cause distressing psychological or physiological reactions, especially in people who have previously experienced a related trauma: TW

The header line of the blog post contains a trigger warning for rape.

Etymology

Origin of trigger warning

First recorded in 1990–95; trigger ( def. ) (in the sense “something that stimulates or initiates”)

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:

trigger warning

Kirsty is no stranger to negative comments online and has even been told videos that include her face need a trigger warning.

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

“Munich Medea: Happy Family” carries the wrong trigger warning.

From New York Times ● Feb. 14, 2024

That mention of JP should have come with a trigger warning.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2023

A student who attended the class — who was president of Hamline’s Muslim Student Association — complained to the university, saying the trigger warning didn’t define what image would be shown.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 19, 2023

"Stranger Things" added in a trigger warning ahead of release.

From Salon ● Aug. 27, 2022

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023