Meaning & use
injuries sustained
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phraseformal
physical harm that someone received in an accident, attack, or other unpleasant event
Grammar: Used as a noun phrase; it often appears after verbs like 'report', 'confirm', or 'describe'.
Patterns
- injuries sustained in something
- injuries sustained by someone
- report injuries sustained
The hospital confirmed that the injuries sustained in the crash were not life-threatening.
The report described the injuries sustained by workers at the factory.
She needed surgery for injuries sustained during the earthquake.
Common combinations
- injuries sustained in an accident
- The driver was treated for injuries sustained in an accident on the highway.
- injuries sustained during the attack
- Several soldiers suffered injuries sustained during the attack.
- report injuries sustained
- The police asked witnesses to report any injuries sustained at the scene.
- serious injuries sustained
- He is recovering from serious injuries sustained in the fire.
Synonyms and how they differ
- wounds
- Wounds are usually cuts or breaks in the skin, often caused by weapons; injuries sustained is broader and can include internal damage.
- trauma
- Trauma is a medical term for serious physical harm, often from a violent event; injuries sustained is more neutral and legal-sounding.
Commonly confused: injuries sustained or injuries sustained vs. sustained injuries?
injuries sustained vs injuries sustained vs. sustained injuries
Both are correct, but 'injuries sustained' puts the focus on the injuries themselves, while 'sustained injuries' is a verb phrase focusing on the action.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'injuries sustained' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase 'injuries sustained in an accident' is the correct pattern; 'sustained' is a past participle describing the injuries, and 'in' introduces the event. The other options use wrong prepositions.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “injuries sustained”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.