noun
contusion
kuhn-TYOO-zhuhn
noun
1
A bruise; an injury that discolors the skin without breaking it.
"The doctor noted several contusions on the patient's arm."
How to Use Contusion
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA medical term for a bruise.
When to use it
Mostly used in medical or clinical contexts; "bruise" is the everyday word.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
minor contusion
severe contusion
Word Forms
contusions plural
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The doctor noted several _____ on the patient's arm.
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French contusion, from Latin contusio, from contundere ("to beat, to bruise"), from com- plus tundere ("to beat").