traumatic brain injury

noun

: an acquired brain injury caused by external force (such as a blow to the head sustained in a motor vehicle accident or fall or shrapnel or a bullet entering through the skull)

Traumatic brain injury occurs when the shock from an explosion damages neurological fibers. Soldiers may survive a blast with scarcely a cut, only to find over time that they suffer coordination and memory loss, dizziness, insomnia.

—Nancy Gibbs

An unprotected fall, especially if the player is unconscious or his opponent lands on top of him, can result in severe traumatic brain injury.

—Michael J. Stuart et al.

broadly : acquired brain injury

—abbreviation TBI

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Cirello‘s injuries included a traumatic brain injury and broken bones, and he was hospitalized for nearly a week. Flores was arrested about a week later in the Madera County city of Oakhurst. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2023

The only risk factor yet identified is a history of concussion or traumatic brain injury, Finger says. —Diana Kwon, Scientific American, 9 Mar. 2023

During Head's sentencing, Fanone said the attack gave him a heart attack and a traumatic brain injury and ultimately cost him his career. —Michael Kunzelman, ajc, 4 Mar. 2023

The resulting traumatic brain injury and memory loss forced the cancelation of a string of 2022 shows during her recovery, which is ongoing. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 2 Mar. 2023

These symptoms had an impact on health as severe as the long-term effects of traumatic brain injury. —Sarah Wulf Hanson, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2023

Rodriguez, 40, admitted attacking Fanone as the officer, who suffered a heart attack and traumatic brain injury, was dragged down the stairs. —Harold Maass, The Week, 15 Feb. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

traumatic brain injury

noun

: an acquired brain injury caused by external force (as a blow to the head sustained in a motor vehicle accident or fall or shrapnel or a bullet entering through the skull)

A soldier—or a civilian—can survive the blast without a single penetrating wound and still receive the worst diagnosis: traumatic brain injury, or TBI, the signature injury of the Iraq War.

—Michael Mason, Discover

An unprotected fall, especially if the player is unconscious or his opponent lands on top of him, can result in severe traumatic brain injury.

—Michael J. Stuart et al., USA Today

broadly : acquired brain injury

—abbreviation TBI