whiplash injury n 1: an injury to the neck (the cervical vertebrae) resulting from rapid acceleration or deceleration (as in an automobile accident) [syn: {whiplash}, {whiplash injury}]
Whiplash injury \Whip"lash` in"ju*ry\, n. an injury to the neck caused by the sudden motion of the head backward and forward, as occurs to the occupants of a vehicle hit from behind by another vehicle. [PJC]