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
Tim Spiers, New York Times, 3 June 2026
In O’Farrell’s work, a woman in a coma might possess startling awareness of her own mind; two strangers might forge a near-psychic mutual understanding; a child desperate to save his twin sister might trick death.
—Rachel Vorona Cote, Vulture, 2 June 2026
In a small percentage of cases, the virus can invade the nervous system, causing coma, paralysis or death.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 2 June 2026
Housing policy is like a fever dream within a coma.
—Caroline Mimbs Nyce, New Yorker, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for coma
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Noun
Battiston was through on goal and Schumacher jumped into his body with such force that the Frenchman was knocked unconscious, had teeth knocked out, damaged his vertebrae and later slipped into a coma.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 3 June 2026
In O’Farrell’s work, a woman in a coma might possess startling awareness of her own mind; two strangers might forge a near-psychic mutual understanding; a child desperate to save his twin sister might trick death.
—Rachel Vorona Cote, Vulture, 2 June 2026
In a small percentage of cases, the virus can invade the nervous system, causing coma, paralysis or death.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 2 June 2026
Housing policy is like a fever dream within a coma.
—Caroline Mimbs Nyce, New Yorker, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for coma
Cite this Entry
“Coma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coma. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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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