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injury

n. C / U
A2 Elementary Oxford US //ˈɪndʒɝi// UK //ˈɪndʒəɹi// in·jury Archaic General-service

n. physical damage to your body, usually caused by an accident or a fall. It can also mean harm to your feelings or your reputation.

n. physical harm or damage to a person's body, typically resulting from an external force or accident. It may also refer to legal or reputational harm in more formal contexts.


SIMPLE

He had a leg injury after the football match.

CONTEXTUAL

The doctor examined the patient to see if the head injury was serious enough to require surgery.

COMPLEX

While the physical injury healed within weeks, the psychological impact of the accident lingered for much longer, affecting her ability to drive at night.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English injurie, from Anglo-Norman injurie, from Latin iniūria (“injustice; wrong; offense”), from in- (“not”) + iūs, iūris (“right, law”). Doublet of injuria.

Usage

Countable when referring to specific instances of harm; uncountable when referring to the general concept of being hurt.

Pitfall

He got an injury in his prideHe suffered a blow to his prideWhile 'injury' works for physical harm or legal rights, learners often overextend it to emotional states where 'blow' or 'hurt' is more natural.

Idioms1 entry

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