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 shifting plans added a sense of whiplash to an already frenetic final stretch of campaigning as Republicans fight to hold their congressional majorities. — Rachel Lerman, Washington Post, 31 Oct. 2026

The company had been through so many management changes that employees were experiencing a kind of whiplash, with each new person wanting something different. — Steve Murphy, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026

The cost of crude oil — the main ingredient in gasoline as well as diesel — has been volatile as markets and consumers feel whiplash about uncertainty of the war’s future. — Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2026

But don’t expect this whiplash back to the left to be permanent. — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 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)