hematoma: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Technical, Medical
Quick answer
What does “hematoma” mean?
A solid swelling of clotted blood within the body's tissues, typically caused by a break in a blood vessel.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A solid swelling of clotted blood within the body's tissues, typically caused by a break in a blood vessel.
In medicine, a localized collection of blood outside the blood vessels, often appearing as a bruise or lump. In a broader sense, it can metaphorically describe a situation or problem that builds up internally before becoming apparent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant usage differences. Spelling: British English predominantly uses 'haematoma', while American English uses 'hematoma'. Both spellings are understood in each region.
Connotations
Same medical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
More frequent in medical contexts; in everyday speech, 'bruise' or 'lump' is more common. The term itself is used with comparable frequency in professional settings in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “hematoma” in a Sentence
Patient developed a [adjective] hematoma [prepositional phrase: after the fall/in the leg].The [adjective] hematoma was [verb: drained/observed].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hematoma” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The tissue began to haematomise after the blunt trauma.
- The area haematoma'd significantly.
American English
- The tissue began to hematomize after the blunt trauma.
- The area hematomaed significantly.
adverb
British English
- Not standard. No common adverbial form.
American English
- Not standard. No common adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- The haematomal swelling was palpable.
- A haematomatous mass was identified on the scan.
American English
- The hematomal swelling was palpable.
- A hematomatous mass was identified on the scan.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare. Potentially metaphorical: 'The unresolved lawsuit was a hematoma on the company's finances.'
Academic
Common in medical, biological, and health science literature and lectures.
Everyday
Uncommon in casual talk. A patient might report: 'The doctor said I have a hematoma from the injection.' More often, people say 'a bad bruise' or 'a lump of blood.'
Technical
The primary domain. Precisely used in clinical diagnosis, surgery, radiology reports, and medical notes.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hematoma”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hematoma”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hematoma”
- Mispronouncing it as /ˈhemətoʊmə/ (HEM-uh-tohma). Correct stress is on the third syllable: /-TOE-mə/.
- Using it interchangeably with 'bruise' for every minor skin discoloration.
- Misspelling in AmE as 'haematoma' (though this is accepted, it's less common).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. All hematomas are a type of bruise (contusion), but 'hematoma' typically implies a larger, more localized, and often palpable collection of clotted blood. A simple surface bruise might be called an ecchymosis.
Small hematomas often resolve on their own with rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE). Large, painful, or internally located hematomas may require medical intervention, such as surgical drainage.
Intracranial hematomas, such as subdural or epidural hematomas in the brain, are the most dangerous as they increase pressure inside the skull and can lead to brain damage or death if not treated promptly.
The difference stems from the Latin/Greek root 'haema-' for blood. American English spelling often simplifies 'ae' and 'oe' digraphs to 'e', hence 'hematology', 'hematoma'. British English traditionally retains the 'ae' or 'oe' (haematology, haematoma), though the simplified forms are increasingly seen.
A solid swelling of clotted blood within the body's tissues, typically caused by a break in a blood vessel.
Hematoma is usually formal, technical, medical in register.
Hematoma: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhiːməˈtəʊmə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhiːməˈtoʊmə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly. Figuratively: 'a political hematoma' for a festering internal party issue.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: HEMA- (blood, as in hemoglobin) + -TOMA (swelling, as in 'oma' for tumour). A 'blood-swelling'.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BODY IS A CONTAINER (for blood); INJURY IS A BREACH IN THE CONTAINER; A COLLECTION OF FLUID IS A LUMP/SWELLING.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes a 'subdural hematoma'?