injury

noun

in·​ju·​ry ˈin-j(ə-)rē 

plural injuries

1

: hurt, damage, or loss sustained

2

a

: an act that damages or hurts : wrong

b

: violation of another's rights for which the law allows an action to recover damages

Synonyms

• affliction
• damage
• detriment
• harm
• hurt

Choose the Right Synonym for injury

injustice, injury, wrong, grievance mean an act that inflicts undeserved hurt.

injustice applies to any act that involves unfairness to another or violation of one's rights.

the injustices suffered by the lower classes

injury applies in law specifically to an injustice for which one may sue to recover compensation.

libel constitutes a legal injury

wrong applies also in law to any act punishable according to the criminal code; it may apply more generally to any flagrant injustice.

determined to right society's wrongs

grievance applies to a circumstance or condition that constitutes an injustice to the sufferer and gives just ground for complaint.

a list of employee grievances

Examples of injury in a Sentence

Hikers need to take sensible precautions to prevent injury.

She's concerned about the risk of injury to her reputation.

The team has been weakened by illness and injury.

Careless use of these tools can cause serious bodily injury.

She survived the accident without injury.

She fell and suffered an injury to her arm.

His athletic career has been slowed by injuries.

Recent Examples on the Web

Foster provides transparent injury updates, gives specifics about his plans, explains his thinking. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024

The Heat will issue its injury report for Friday’s all-or-nothing game on Thursday afternoon. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2024

Florida is seeing a spike in such injuries, and so is the U.S. as a whole. —Stephanie Colombini, NPR, 18 Apr. 2024

This postseason brings more of the same with Kawhi Leonard’s availability in doubt due to a right knee injury that kept him out for the final eight games of the regular season. —Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Apr. 2024

Ingram is back after missing 12 games with a left knee injury. —Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 18 Apr. 2024

Blood biomarker tests like this one can make brain injury diagnoses more objective and accessible, experts say. —Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 17 Apr. 2024

Even so, postal carrier robberies climbed 30% to 643 incidents last year, while the number of robberies resulting in injuries doubled to 61 in 2023, according to figures provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in response to a Freedom of Information Act request by The Associated Press. —Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2024

The study, published by personal injury law firm Jason Stone Injury Lawyers, analyzed the nation's roadways based on scenic factors that could distract drivers' attention. —Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 17 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English injurie, from Anglo-French, Latin injuria, from injurus injurious, from in- + jur-, jus right — more at just

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing injury

• acquired brain injury
• add insult to injury
• do oneself an injury
• injury-prone
• injury time
• repetitive strain injury
• self-injury
• traumatic brain injury

Kids Definition

injury

noun

in·​ju·​ry ˈinj-(ə-)rē 

plural injuries

1

: an act that damages or hurts : wrong

2

: hurt, damage, or loss received

Medical Definition

injury

noun

in·​ju·​ry ˈinj-(ə-)rē 

plural injuries

: hurt, damage, or loss sustained

Legal Definition

injury

noun

in·​ju·​ry

plural injuries

1

: an act that wrongs or harms another

specifically : a violation of a legally protected interest (as the physical or mental well-being, property, reputation, or rights of another) for which the law allows an action for legal or equitable relief

2

: hurt, damage, or loss sustained

Etymology

Latin injuria, from injurus injurious, from in- not + jur-, jus right