Words / B2

TRORM-uh/ˈtrɔːmə/

Trauma is severe shock or injury (often uncountable): trauma care; childhood trauma; a trauma unit. Traumatic is the adjective. Shock is everyday and shorter-term; injury is the physical fact. Do not use trauma for missing a bus. NHS: major trauma centres.

Meaning

A deeply shocking experience, or the injury and distress it causes (uncountable in many medical uses).

Examples

• “The unit treats trauma after serious road collisions.”
• “The film was criticised for exploiting trauma, which is the psychological sense.”

Good to know

Uncountable (many medical uses): trauma; a trauma unit / centre. Adjective: traumatic. Everyday: shock. Physical: injury. Not a minor upset. NHS trauma centres.

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