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

For a function that has been struggling from the whiplash of mass resignations to mass layoffs, the allure of efficiency and speed is no surprise. —Susan Lamotte, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025

Still, seeing your retirement account take a hit can be unnerving, especially given the whiplash of recent market swings. —John Towfighi, CNN, 18 Mar. 2025

The Pitt is a show where sometimes tonal whiplash is the point because life is tonal whiplash; this line of work Dr. Robby et al have chosen is certainly rife with it. —Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025

Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Images Europe Automakers are still dealing with whiplash from the delay, imposition and then partial rollback of tariffs on Canada and Mexico. —Camila Domonoske, NPR, 12 Mar. 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)