injury
He suffered a serious injury in the car accident and had to stay in the hospital for weeks.
The accident caused significant physical harm requiring extended medical treatment.
Physical harm or damage to the body caused by an accident or violence.
The athlete missed the season due to a knee injury.
The sportsman was unable to participate because of damage to his knee joint.
Workplace safety regulations aim to prevent injuries from machinery.
Safety protocols are designed to avoid bodily harm caused by equipment.
Often used in medical, legal, and sports contexts. Can refer to both minor (e.g., bruise) and severe (e.g., fracture) harm.
Emotional or psychological harm or distress.
The breakup left her with a deep emotional injury that took years to heal.
The separation caused significant psychological pain that persisted over time.
Less common than the physical sense but used metaphorically for emotional pain.
Collocations
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Collocation with 'sustain'
Use 'sustain an injury' in formal contexts to describe the act of receiving harm, e.g., 'The player sustained a ligament injury during the match.'
Gold Rule
Physical vs. Emotional
Always clarify whether 'injury' refers to physical harm (most common) or emotional distress (less common) to avoid ambiguity.
Plural vs. Singular
Use 'injuries' when referring to multiple instances of harm, e.g., 'The report listed three injuries sustained in the accident.'
Word Origin
From Middle English 'enjurie', from Old French 'injurie' (modern French 'injure'), from Latin 'iniuria' meaning 'unfairness, injury', derived from 'in-' (not) + 'iūs' (right, law). The sense of physical harm emerged in the 16th century.
Usage Notes
Used broadly in medical, legal, and everyday contexts. In sports, 'injury' often refers to time lost due to harm. Avoid using 'injury' for minor cuts or scrapes—'wound' or 'cut' may be more appropriate. The plural 'injuries' is common in medical reports.