whiplash

noun

whip·​lash ˈ(h)wip-ˌlash 

1

: the lash of a whip

2

: something resembling a blow from a whip

… the whiplash of fear …

—R. S. Banay

3

: injury resulting from a sudden sharp whipping movement of the neck and head (as of a person in a vehicle that is struck from the rear by another vehicle)

Examples of whiplash in a Sentence

He got whiplash when his car was rear-ended.

Recent Examples on the Web

The whiplash team, swinging between fast-and-sloppy and slow-and-perfect, is a measurement problem that a balanced score would resolve. — Pradeep Prasana Kanagaraj, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

If this is food-history whiplash, bring on the 17-car pileup. — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 9 July 2026

Yet its fidelity to the truth of each idiosyncratic character makes the show’s whiplash narrative feel believable. — Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026

That whiplash-inducing sum covers multi-day arena rental, top-tier security, and several headline performers. — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for whiplash

• backlash
• chumash
• eyelash
• moustache
• mustache
• noncash
• potash
• rehash
• ash
• bash
• brash
• cache

Kids Definition

whiplash

noun

whip·​lash -ˌlash 

1

: the lash of a whip

2

: injury resulting from a sudden sharp jerking movement of the head and neck (as of a person in a car that is struck from behind by another car)

Medical Definition

whiplash

noun

whip·​lash ˈhwip-ˌlash, ˈwip- 

: injury resulting from a sudden sharp whipping movement of the neck and head (as of a person in a vehicle that is struck head-on or from the rear by another vehicle)