1
: a state of profound unconsciousness caused by disease, injury, or poison
2
: a state of mental or physical sluggishness : torpor
plural comae
ˈkō-ˌmē 
-ˌmī
1
: a tufted bunch (as of branches, bracts, or seed hairs)
2
: the head of a comet consisting of a cloud of gas and dust and usually containing a nucleus
3
: an optical aberration in which the image of a point source is a comet-shaped blur
Examples of coma in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
But, unlike my sister, the American public has emerged from its coma, and clearly sees the reality through its tears, whether Kennedy likes it or not.
—Patti Newton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
Lead in any amount can cause health problems, particularly in children, whether a person breathes it in or ingests it, while extremely high lead levels can cause a seizure, coma or death.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
He was admitted straight into intensive care and placed into an induced coma.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coma
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Noun
That moment changed everything, as Barnsley was placed in a month-long coma, and her best friend died instantly.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
But, unlike my sister, the American public has emerged from its coma, and clearly sees the reality through its tears, whether Kennedy likes it or not.
—Patti Newton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
Lead in any amount can cause health problems, particularly in children, whether a person breathes it in or ingests it, while extremely high lead levels can cause a seizure, coma or death.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
He was admitted straight into intensive care and placed into an induced coma.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coma
Cite this Entry
“Coma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coma. Accessed 25 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
coma
1 of 2 noun
co·ma
ˈkō-mə
: a sleeplike state of unconsciousness caused by disease, injury, or poison
coma
2 of 2 noun
plural comae
-ˌmē
-ˌmī
: the head of a comet made up of a cloud of gas and dust and usually containing a nucleus
Etymology
Noun
scientific Latin, from Greek kōma "deep sleep"
Noun
from Latin coma "hair," from Greek komē "hair" — related to comet
Medical Definition
coma
noun
co·ma
ˈkō-mə
: a state of profound unconsciousness caused by disease, injury, or poison
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