whiplash

noun

whip·​lash ˈ(h)wip-ˌlash How to pronounce whiplash (audio)
1
: the lash of a whip
2
: something resembling a blow from a whip
the whiplash of fearR. S. Banay
3
: injury resulting from a sudden sharp whipping movement of the neck and head (as of a person in a vehicle that is struck from the rear by another vehicle)

Examples of whiplash in a Sentence

He got whiplash when his car was rear-ended.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The whole up and down is giving the industry a case of whiplash. Robert Ferris, CNBC, 16 May 2025 This kind of rhetorical whiplash doesn’t sit right. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2025 Of the main characters, Overcompensating is less successful at making Miles into much more than an enticing object of affection for Benny, while the whiplash attempts to develop Peter don’t do DiMarco any favors. Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2025 Queen City breweries, too, are dealing with the severe whiplash brought on by the uncertainty of when, if and for how long the tariffs will be in effect. Timothy Depeugh, Charlotte Observer, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for whiplash

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of whiplash was circa 1580

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Whiplash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whiplash. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

whiplash

noun
whip·​lash -ˌlash How to pronounce whiplash (audio)
1
: the lash of a whip
2
: injury resulting from a sudden sharp jerking movement of the head and neck (as of a person in a car that is struck from behind by another car)

Medical Definition

whiplash

noun
whip·​lash ˈhwip-ˌlash, ˈwip- How to pronounce whiplash (audio)
: injury resulting from a sudden sharp whipping movement of the neck and head (as of a person in a vehicle that is struck head-on or from the rear by another vehicle)

More from Merriam-Webster on whiplash

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!