whiplash

noun

whip·​lash ˈ(h)wip-ˌlash 

1

: the lash of a whip

2

: something resembling a blow from a whip

… the whiplash of fear …

—R. 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

In part, the president's whiplash messaging could stem from his struggle to portray his own economy as less than perfect. —December 12, NPR, 12 Dec. 2025

What was the emotional whiplash like for Steven going from the highest of highs to lowest of lows? —Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Dec. 2025

Cay's joke made light of the fact McNabb suffered a concussion, brain bleed and permanent whiplash after being spiked in the head by a biological male trans athlete during a North Carolina high school match in 2022. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 5 Dec. 2025

One might be forgiven for suffering a bit of whiplash. —MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for whiplash

• backlash
• chumash
• eyelash
• moustache
• mustache
• noncash
• potash
• rehash
• ash
• bash
• brash
• cache

Kids Definition

whiplash

noun

whip·​lash -ˌlash 

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- 

: 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)