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

Soderstrom missed Wednesday’s game after suffering whiplash from diving for a ball on Tuesday. —Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026

If the city can’t find funding for the program, thousands of teachers could face pay cuts —a whiplash that comes after the pay raises changed their lives. —Jenny Gathright, Washington Post, 26 Apr. 2026

The third and potentially largest storm, Farley said, is the regulatory whiplash that has accompanied the march toward lower carbon emissions. —Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026

The poll was conducted April 16-20, during which time the Strait of Hormuz was reopened by Iran, then closed again, an example of the whiplash that has characterized the conflict. —Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026

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)