trauma

[trou-muh, traw-]

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.

trauma

/ ˈtrɔːmə, trɔːˈmætɪk /

noun

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

2. pathol any bodily injury or wound

trauma

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.

trauma

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

The term is frequently used to describe an emotional shock that causes serious psychological damage.

Other Word Forms

• traumatic adjective
• traumatically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of trauma¹

First recorded in 1685–95, trauma is from the Greek word traûma wound

Word History and Origins

Origin of trauma¹

C18: from Greek: a wound

Example Sentences

She said the scheme gives young people who have experienced trauma "the best second chance at life" but parents "feel real fear" about the changes.

From BBC

It says low levels of education, unemployment, social segregation and refugee's war trauma are all causes - not the fact of being a migrant.

From BBC

The operation to repair Froome's heart took place at the Sainte-Anne Toulon military hospital, which is the highest-level trauma centre in that part of France and specialises in thoracic surgery.

From BBC

Atack added that confronting her online abuse was one of the hardest things she had ever done - she underwent therapy throughout the process because it had involved revisiting past trauma.

From BBC

Another potential explanation is the ripple effect of trauma.

From BBC

Related Words

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

When To Use

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.