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
Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 May 2025
Shinwell takes the rep aside and asks her to grab some of the antidote to the sickness that pushed Stephens into a coma, because the mad scientist must have some lying around.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 11 May 2025
The lack of oxygen to his brain led to severe brain injury, leaving him in a coma and a vegetative state.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 10 May 2025
Another four people were injured and taken for treatment, including the boy's father who is in a coma and mother who is also hospitalized, officials said.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for coma
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Noun
The 43-year-old fell into a coma and died two weeks later.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 May 2025
Shinwell takes the rep aside and asks her to grab some of the antidote to the sickness that pushed Stephens into a coma, because the mad scientist must have some lying around.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 11 May 2025
The lack of oxygen to his brain led to severe brain injury, leaving him in a coma and a vegetative state.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 10 May 2025
Another four people were injured and taken for treatment, including the boy's father who is in a coma and mother who is also hospitalized, officials said.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 7 May 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 21 May. 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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