phantom limb

noun

: an often painful sensation of the presence of a limb that has been amputated

called also phantom pain

Examples of phantom limb in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web By the end of that year, the panel was monitoring 132 ongoing research projects, including studies on whether cannabis use affects antiretroviral therapy and how psilocybin helps people suffering from phantom limb pain. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 19 Jan. 2024 With the system, the volunteer could clearly distinguish between rounded and sharp objects and felt the sensation coming directly from his phantom limb. IEEE Spectrum, 20 June 2018 Laura Hermann, an audiologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore who wasn’t involved with the study, said the comparison to phantom limb syndrome was spot on. Katie Mogg, NBC News, 1 Dec. 2023 Doctors amputated his leg below the knee, but Lin experienced severe phantom limb pain that standard painkillers failed to control. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 22 Nov. 2023 Karin, whose last name remains undisclosed, endured years of phantom limb pain, and prosthetic limbs provided her little comfort. Sandra Rose Salathe, Peoplemag, 13 Oct. 2023 For a generation raised on the mythology of social mobility, the loss of optimism aches like a phantom limb. Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2023 Finally, many amputees experience severe phantom limb pain, which refers to the perception of pain in a limb that's no longer there. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 19 Sep. 2023 Additionally, the team spent a month testing the effects of activating the implant to relieve phantom limb pain. IEEE Spectrum, 9 Sep. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'phantom limb.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of phantom limb was in 1871

Dictionary Entries Near phantom limb

Cite this Entry

“Phantom limb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phantom%20limb. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

Medical Definition

phantom limb

noun
: an often painful sensation of the presence of a limb that has been amputated

called also phantom pain, phantom sensations

More from Merriam-Webster on phantom limb

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