ˈtrɑːmə
plural traumas
1
: a very difficult or unpleasant experience that causes someone to have mental or emotional problems usually for a long time
She never fully recovered from the traumas she suffered during her childhood.
She never fully recovered from the trauma of her experiences.
2
medical
: a serious injury to a person's body
an accident victim with severe head trauma
repeated trauma to a knee
The accident victim sustained multiple traumas.
Cite this Entry
“Trauma.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/trauma. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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