traumatic brain injury

noun

: an acquired brain injury caused by external force (such as a blow to the head sustained in a motor vehicle accident or fall or shrapnel or a bullet entering through the skull)

Traumatic brain injury occurs when the shock from an explosion damages neurological fibers. Soldiers may survive a blast with scarcely a cut, only to find over time that they suffer coordination and memory loss, dizziness, insomnia.

—Nancy Gibbs

An unprotected fall, especially if the player is unconscious or his opponent lands on top of him, can result in severe traumatic brain injury.

—Michael J. Stuart et al.

broadly : acquired brain injury

—abbreviation TBI

Examples of traumatic brain injury in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The teenager suffered a traumatic brain injury, his family previously told ABC News. —Deena Zaru, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2024

But in January, a seminal 30-person Stanford study on U.S. war veterans showed ibogaine can safely diminish the effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) — a condition that leads to PTSD, depression, and anxiety. —Mattha Busby, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2024

Biden spoke directly to Giffords during the event, calling her an inspiration to thousands of people who suffer from traumatic brain injuries. —Stephanie Innes, The Arizona Republic, 2 Aug. 2024

Rocket was suffering from numerous injuries by the time police got there, including a traumatic brain injury, a fractured femur and severe organ damage. —Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 22 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

traumatic brain injury

noun

: an acquired brain injury caused by external force (as a blow to the head sustained in a motor vehicle accident or fall or shrapnel or a bullet entering through the skull)

A soldier—or a civilian—can survive the blast without a single penetrating wound and still receive the worst diagnosis: traumatic brain injury, or TBI, the signature injury of the Iraq War.

—Michael Mason, Discover

An unprotected fall, especially if the player is unconscious or his opponent lands on top of him, can result in severe traumatic brain injury.

—Michael J. Stuart et al., USA Today

broadly : acquired brain injury

—abbreviation TBI