contusion

noun

con·​tu·​sion kən-ˈtü-zhən 

-ˈtyü-

: injury to tissue usually without laceration : bruise sense 1a

contuse

kən-ˈtüz 

-ˈtyüz

transitive verb

Synonyms

• bruise

Examples of contusion in a Sentence

He suffered multiple contusions of the leg.

suffered multiple contusions as a result of a car accident

Recent Examples on the Web

Per Brett Siegel of HoopsHype, Warriors shooting guard Brandin Podziemski has been diagnosed with a left hip contusion. —Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025

Vanderbilt played 13 minutes Wednesday before being removed midway through the second quarter with a left quadriceps contusion after banging his left knee with a Mavericks defender. —Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025

Symptoms of bone contusions from this mechanism of injury include pain in the front of the knee, stiffness and swelling. —Harlan Selesnick, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025

Also, the contusions on the right forearm appeared to the undersigned to be of different ages. —Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English conteschown, from Latin contusion-, contusio, from contundere to pound, bruise, from com- + tundere to beat; akin to Goth stautan to strike, Sanskrit tudati he pushes

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for contusion

• allusion
• collusion
• conclusion
• confusion
• delusion
• diffusion
• effusion
• exclusion
• extrusion
• illusion
• inclusion
• infusion

Kids Definition

contusion

noun

con·​tus·​ion

kən-ˈt(y)ü-zhən

: an injury to tissue that usually does not break the skin : bruise

contuse

-ˈt(y)üz

verb

Medical Definition

contusion

noun

con·​tu·​sion kən-ˈt(y)ü-zhən 

: injury to tissue usually without laceration : bruise sense 1

contuse

-ˈt(y)üz 

transitive verb

contused; contusing