Meaning & use
a trigger warning
Last updated
UK/əˈtrɪɡ.ə ˌwɔː.nɪŋ/
US/əˈtrɪɡ.ɚ ˌwɔːr.nɪŋ/
Meaning
nouncountable
A statement at the start of a text, video, etc., warning that it contains material that may upset people who have experienced trauma.
Grammar: Countable; often used with 'give' or 'include'.
Patterns
- give a trigger warning
- a trigger warning for something
The article began with a trigger warning for graphic descriptions of violence.
Some teachers give a trigger warning before showing a disturbing film.
Word forms
| plural | trigger warnings |
|---|
Common combinations
- give a trigger warning
- The professor gave a trigger warning before the lecture.
- a trigger warning for
- They added a trigger warning for sexual assault.
- issue a trigger warning
- The website issued a trigger warning on the article.
Synonyms and how they differ
- content warning
- A broader term for a warning about any potentially upsetting content; 'trigger warning' specifically refers to trauma triggers.
- alert
- A general warning; 'alert' is not specific to psychological triggers.
Word family
Practice
What is a trigger warning?
Choose one answer.
A trigger warning alerts people to content that might cause distress, especially to those who have experienced trauma. It is not about physical triggers or computer viruses.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a trigger warning”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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