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

the personal trauma of an executive who is not living up to his own expectations

—Karen W. Arenson

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 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

It was later determined that Saget had suffered blunt head trauma following an unwitnessed fall. —Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 13 Apr. 2024

After suffering the collective trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic, some of us rushed out to be social and get re-connected to the world at large. —Myisha Battle, TIME, 13 Apr. 2024

The survivors of the Nova festival present a case study that would be impossible to replicate in a lab: a large group of people who endured trauma while under the influence of substances that render the brain more receptive and malleable. —Gal Koplewitz Natan Odenheimer, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024

There is an unquestionable power in telling our stories beyond those of strife, hardship, and trauma, especially for young precious minds. —Bridgette Bartlett Royall, Essence, 10 Apr. 2024

The lawsuit, filed last week in Texas’ 458th District Court, says Cheruvu’s son was burned on both shoulders against his will, causing extreme pain, permanent skin damage, an infection and emotional trauma. —Sakshi Venkatraman, NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024

But these days, moderation work—and, thus, the aforementioned trauma—is increasingly being outsourced. —Seyward Darby, Longreads, 9 Apr. 2024

Riley, who had disappeared while jogging on the grounds of the University of Georgia, was found dead at Oconee Forest Park near Lake Herrick of blunt force trauma injuries. —Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2024

As his childhood trauma boils over, his mysteriously scarred hands unleash an explosive campaign of retribution to settle the score with the men who took everything from him. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Apr. 2024

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

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