# injury

/ˈɪndʒɝi/ (US) · /ˈɪndʒəɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/injury
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. physical damage

noun · CEFR A2

physical damage to a person's or animal's body.

For teachers: physical harm or damage to a living organism, typically caused by an external force or accident.

- He suffered a serious knee injury while playing football last Saturday.
- The medical report confirmed that the patient had sustained a severe spinal injury during the collision, requiring immediate surgical intervention.

### 2. emotional harm

noun · CEFR B2

damage to someone's feelings or mental health.

For teachers: psychological or emotional harm sustained by an individual.

- The harsh criticism caused her deep emotional injury.
- Psychologists argue that the long-term psychological injury caused by childhood neglect can manifest in various ways during adulthood.

### 3. legal or reputational harm

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

damage to someone's rights, property, or good name.

For teachers: the violation of a person's legal rights, reputation, or interests.

- The newspaper was sued for the injury to the actor's reputation.
- The plaintiff sought compensation for the injury to his commercial interests resulting from the defendant's breach of contract.

## Examples

- He had a leg injury after the football match.
- The doctor examined the patient to see if the head injury was serious enough to require surgery.
- While the physical injury healed within weeks, the psychological impact of the accident lingered for much longer, affecting her ability to drive at night.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.