Meaning & use

trauma

noun·Academic

A deeply distressing or disturbing experience, or the lasting emotional or physical harm it causes.

See it in a sentence

Years after the accident, she still worked through the trauma with a therapist.

The emergency room treats patients with severe physical trauma from car crashes.

A note on using this word

Trauma can refer either to a physical wound (medical usage) or to lasting psychological harm from a distressing event; context determines which sense applies.

Words with a similar meaning

distressshockinjury

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

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