# whiplash

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈwɪpˌlæʃ/ · frequency rank #27,028

## Definitions
1. The lash of a whip.
2. An injury to the upper spine connected to a violent jerk of the head in either a backward or forward or side to side direction, resembling the motion of a whip.
3. An abrupt and unexpected change, or the resulting feeling of shock.

## Etymology
Univerbation of whip + lash.

## Common misspellings (13)
`hwiplash`, `whhiplash`, `whilpash`, `whipalsh`, `whiplahs`, `whiplashh`, `whiplassh`, `whipllash`, `whiplsah`, `whipplash`, `whpilash`, `wihplash`, `wwhiplash`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/whiplash