trauma

noun

trau·​ma ˈtrȯ-mə 

also

ˈtrau̇- 

plural traumas also traumata

ˈtrȯ-mə-tə,

also

ˈtrau̇- 

1

a

: an injury (such as a wound) to living tissue caused by an extrinsic agent

b

: a disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or physical injury

c

: an emotional upset

the personal trauma of an executive who is not living up to his own expectations

—Karen W. Arenson

2

: an agent, force, or mechanism that causes trauma

Did you know?

Trauma is the Greek word for "wound". Although the Greeks used the term only for physical injuries, nowadays trauma is just as likely to refer to emotional wounds. We now know that a traumatic event can leave psychological symptoms long after any physical injuries have healed. The psychological reaction to emotional trauma now has an established name: post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. It usually occurs after an extremely stressful event, such as wartime combat, a natural disaster, or sexual or physical abuse; its symptoms include depression, anxiety, flashbacks, and recurring nightmares.

Examples of trauma in a Sentence

She never fully recovered from the traumas she suffered during her childhood.

She never fully recovered from the trauma of her experiences.

an accident victim with severe head trauma

repeated trauma to a knee

The accident victim sustained multiple traumas.

Recent Examples on the Web

Pesky witches, always trying to steal childhood trauma for their skin care routine. —Hunter Ingram, Variety, 26 Apr. 2024

Absolute masters of dynamics, members Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay instinctively know how to turn the trauma up to 11, then wrap the audience in a blissful and elegant reprieve. —Kat Bein, SPIN, 26 Apr. 2024

The women who have been hurt by his actions now will have to relive that trauma yet again, from another cycle of headlines to the few who may testify in court a second time. —Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2024

This conference will examine the issue of trauma as an underlying cause of gun violence in Black, Hispanic and vulnerable communities. —Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 25 Apr. 2024

But as an actor approaching a part like that, one of the themes in the show that runs through it, through many of the characters, is that of trauma. —Esther Zuckerman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024

One dolphin died on scene due to the trauma of the afternoon, rescuers said. —Julia Daye, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2024

Earlier this year, she was saved by animal control after experiencing a trauma to her head that led to a seizure and visual impairment. —Teryn Jones and, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2024

The most common causes of death in whales are malnutrition, entanglement and trauma from boat strikes, according to the Center. —Brooke Baitinger, Sacramento Bee, 22 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Greek traumat-, trauma wound, alteration of trōma; akin to Greek titrōskein to wound, tetrainein to pierce — more at throw entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1693, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing trauma

• blunt trauma
• trauma center

Kids Definition

trauma

noun

trau·​ma ˈtrau̇-mə  ˈtrȯ- 

plural traumas also traumata -mə-tə 

1

a

: a serious bodily injury (as that caused by an accident or violent act)

head trauma

b

: an abnormal psychological or behavioral state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or injury

2

: a cause of trauma

traumatic

trə-ˈmat-ik 

trȯ-

trau̇-

adjective

Medical Definition

trauma

noun

trau·​ma ˈtrȯ-mə  ˈtrau̇- 

plural traumas also traumata -mət-ə 

1

a

: an injury (as a wound) to living tissue caused by an extrinsic agent

surgical trauma

the intra-abdominal organs at greatest risk to athletic trauma are the spleen, pancreas, and kidney

—M. R. Eichelberger

see blunt trauma

b

: a disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from mental or emotional stress or physical injury

2

: an agent, force, or mechanism that causes trauma