Definition

An injury to the neck caused by a sudden movement of the head, often from a car accident or a similar impact.

Example

After the car accident, she was diagnosed with whiplash and had to undergo physical therapy.

Conversation

I heard you got into a minor car accident last week.

Yeah, it was a bit scary, but I'm okay now.

Did you suffer from any injuries, like whiplash?

Just a little neck pain, but thankfully no serious whiplash.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Whiplash is formed from "whip" (from Old English "wippa", meaning to strike or lash) and "lash" (from Old English "lasch", meaning to strike or hit). The term describes the action of being struck or lashed by a whip, often referring to the injury caused by a sudden jerking motion of the head and neck.

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'whip' which means to strike, and 'lash' which also means to hit. Together, they help you remember that 'whiplash' refers to an injury caused by a sudden striking motion.

Visually Confused Words