contusion

1 of 2

noun

con·​tu·​sion kən-ˈtü-zhən 

-ˈtyü-

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

contuse

kən-ˈtüz 

-ˈtyüz

transitive verb

contuse

2 of 2

transitive verb

con·​tuse kən-ˈt(y)üz 

-ed/-ing/-s

1

: to beat or pound together (as in a mortar)

2

: to injure or disorganize (superficial or deeper tissues) with or without breaking the skin : bruise

Synonyms of contusion

Noun

• bruise

Examples of contusion in a Sentence

Noun

He suffered multiple contusions of the leg.

suffered multiple contusions as a result of a car accident

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Miami Beach Fire Rescue treated her and took her to Mount Sinai Medical Center to treat a contusion to the head and possible concussion. —Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 6 June 2026

Jesus Sánchez, 28, suffered a right wrist contusion after he was hit on the arm by a ball, which had been thrown by a young fan in the stands during the sixth inning of the game against the Baltimore Orioles. —Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026

Realmuto left in the bottom of the fourth inning with a left wrist contusion from a pitch that had hit him earlier in the game. —Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026

Sánchez was removed, the Blue Jays said, with a right wrist contusion. —Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 31 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

Transitive verb

Middle French contuser, from Latin contusus, past participle of contundere to beat, crush, from com- + tundere to beat

First Known Use

Noun

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