trauma

noun

trau·​ma ˈtrȯ-mə 

also

ˈtrau̇- 

plural traumas also traumata

ˈtrȯ-mə-tə

 

also

ˈtrau̇- 

1

a

: an injury (such as a wound) to living tissue caused by an extrinsic agent

b

: a disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or physical injury

c

: an emotional upset

She must deal with the trauma of changing schools …

—Nola Theiss

2

: an agent, force, or mechanism that causes trauma

Did you know?

Trauma is the Greek word for "wound". Although the Greeks used the term only for physical injuries, nowadays trauma is just as likely to refer to emotional wounds. We now know that a traumatic event can leave psychological symptoms long after any physical injuries have healed. The psychological reaction to severe emotional trauma now has an established name: post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. It usually occurs after an extremely stressful event, such as wartime combat, a natural disaster, or sexual or physical abuse; its symptoms include depression, anxiety, flashbacks, and recurring nightmares.

Examples of trauma in a Sentence

She never fully recovered from the traumas she suffered during her childhood.

She never fully recovered from the trauma of her experiences.

an accident victim with severe head trauma

repeated trauma to a knee

The accident victim sustained multiple traumas.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the absence of an official investigation, the incident last September has been magnified, and perhaps embellished, in the minds of veterans living on the campus, a community defined by the vulnerability of physical disability, substance use and trauma. — Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026

As agencies continue to assess the damage, the immediate needs include search and rescue, emergency shelter for families whose homes have been damaged or destroyed, and emergency healthcare, including trauma care and psychosocial support, the Red Cross said. — Will Clark, NBC news, 26 June 2026

The Irvine Police Department said the injured duckling suffered severe head trauma. — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 26 June 2026

Police entered the home and found Murphy lying on her back under a blanket in the living room with signs of trauma to her face, arms and legs, the warrant affidavit said. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Greek traumat-, trauma wound, alteration of trōma; akin to Greek titrōskein to wound, tetrainein to pierce — more at throw entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1693, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing trauma

• blunt trauma
• trauma center

Rhymes for trauma

• brahma
• chama
• comma
• dama
• drama
• gama
• lama
• llama
• mama
• mamma
• momma
• rama

Kids Definition

trauma

noun

trau·​ma ˈtrau̇-mə  ˈtrȯ- 

plural traumas also traumata -mə-tə 

1

a

: a serious bodily injury (as that caused by an accident or violent act)

head trauma

b

: an abnormal psychological or behavioral state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or injury

2

: a cause of trauma

traumatic

trə-ˈmat-ik 

trȯ-, 

trau̇-

adjective

Medical Definition

trauma

noun

trau·​ma ˈtrȯ-mə  ˈtrau̇- 

plural traumas also traumata -mət-ə 

1

a

: an injury (as a wound) to living tissue caused by an extrinsic agent

surgical trauma

the intra-abdominal organs at greatest risk to athletic trauma are the spleen, pancreas, and kidney

—M. R. Eichelberger

see blunt trauma

b

: a disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from mental or emotional stress or physical injury

2

: an agent, force, or mechanism that causes trauma