whiplash

noun

whip·​lash ˈ(h)wip-ˌlash 

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

Monday morning, investment bank Goldman Sachs reported better-than-expected results for the first three months of the year, boosted by a surge in equities trading before Trump’s tariff whiplash. —Medora Lee, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025

Seeking to capitalize on the turmoil unleashed by Trump’s tariff whiplash, Xi is expected to cast China as a reliable partner and defender of global trade. —Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 14 Apr. 2025

For two Yolo County Supervisors, the barrage of executive orders signed by President Donald Trump since assuming office about two months ago has felt like whiplash. —Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2025

Here’s what to know about how countries around the world have begun responding to the whiplash. —Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 10 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for whiplash

• backlash
• chumash
• eyelash
• moustache
• mustache
• noncash
• potash
• rehash
• ash
• bash
• brash
• cache

Kids Definition

whiplash

noun

whip·​lash -ˌlash 

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- 

: 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)