sunstroke: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, medical, everyday (when discussing health in hot climates).
Quick answer
What does “sunstroke” mean?
A serious medical condition caused by excessive exposure to the sun's rays, leading to high body temperature, headache, dizziness, and sometimes unconsciousness.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A serious medical condition caused by excessive exposure to the sun's rays, leading to high body temperature, headache, dizziness, and sometimes unconsciousness.
Can also refer generally to the harmful effects of prolonged exposure to intense sunlight, often used metaphorically to describe a state of being overwhelmed by heat or a situation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Carries the same medical seriousness in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both BrE and AmE, perhaps slightly more frequent in BrE due to greater public awareness campaigns during rare heatwaves.
Grammar
How to Use “sunstroke” in a Sentence
[Subject] got/suffered from sunstrokeThe [cause/activity] gave [object] sunstrokeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sunstroke” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The sunstroked hiker was airlifted to hospital.
- She felt sunstroked and disoriented after the marathon.
American English
- The sunstroked construction worker was given IV fluids.
- He was diagnosed as sunstroked after collapsing on the trail.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in health & safety guidelines for outdoor workers: 'The company policy mandates hats and hydration to prevent sunstroke.'
Academic
Used in medical, public health, and climatology texts discussing the effects of extreme heat.
Everyday
Common in warnings, travel advice, and personal health discussions: 'Drink plenty of water to avoid sunstroke.'
Technical
Precise medical diagnosis; part of ICD codes. Requires specific diagnostic criteria (e.g., core body temperature >40°C, CNS dysfunction).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sunstroke”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sunstroke”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sunstroke”
- Confusing with 'sunburn' (skin damage).
- Misspelling as two words: 'sun stroke'.
- Using it for any feeling of being hot and tired.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In strict medical terms, sunstroke is a type of heatstroke caused specifically by direct exposure to the sun. In everyday language, they are often used interchangeably.
It can develop over several hours of exposure, especially with high humidity, intense sun, and inadequate hydration. Severe cases can onset rapidly.
Call for emergency medical help immediately. While waiting, move the person to a cool, shaded place, remove excess clothing, and try to cool them down with damp cloths or a fan. Do not give them fluids if they are unconscious.
Yes, it is possible because the sun's infrared radiation (heat) can penetrate cloud cover. High ambient temperature and humidity are the key factors, not just direct visible sunlight.
A serious medical condition caused by excessive exposure to the sun's rays, leading to high body temperature, headache, dizziness, and sometimes unconsciousness.
Sunstroke is usually formal, medical, everyday (when discussing health in hot climates). in register.
Sunstroke: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsʌn.strəʊk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsʌn.stroʊk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not directly idiomatic; the word itself is the term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the SUN STRIKING you down with its heat, causing a stroke-like condition.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SUN IS AN AGGRESSOR/ATTACKER (strikes, fells, knocks out).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most precise synonym for 'sunstroke' in a medical context?