whiplash

noun

whip·​lash ˈ(h)wip-ˌlash How to pronounce whiplash (audio)
1
: the lash of a whip
2
: something resembling a blow from a whip
… the whiplash of fear …—R. S. Banay
3
: injury resulting from a sudden sharp whipping movement of the neck and head (as of a person in a vehicle that is struck from the rear by another vehicle)

Examples of whiplash in a Sentence

He got whiplash when his car was rear-ended.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
How to survive the emotional whiplash The day will feel rushed and overwhelming, and that is normal. — Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026 Schulz Logistics was caught on the wrong side of that whiplash. — Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 Soak in the sun on the beach, play vintage arcade games at Funspot, get a light dose of whiplash in the bumper cars, and revel in a vacation moment that feels plucked from another time. — Lila Harron Battis, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026 Diluting the term for expats not only hurts them, but also does a disservice to both the concepts of culture fatigue and culture whiplash. — Liz Guthridge, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for whiplash

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of whiplash was circa 1580

Rhymes for whiplash

See All Rhymes for whiplash

Browse Nearby Words

whip kick
whiplash
whiplash injury
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Whiplash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whiplash. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

whiplash

noun
whip·​lash -ˌlash How to pronounce whiplash (audio)
1
: the lash of a whip
2
: injury resulting from a sudden sharp jerking movement of the head and neck (as of a person in a car that is struck from behind by another car)

Medical Definition

whiplash

noun
whip·​lash ˈhwip-ˌlash, ˈwip- How to pronounce whiplash (audio)
: injury resulting from a sudden sharp whipping movement of the neck and head (as of a person in a vehicle that is struck head-on or from the rear by another vehicle)

More from Merriam-Webster on whiplash

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about whiplash

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