What does wounded mean?
Wounded describes a person, animal, or body that has been injured, as well as someone whose feelings have been deeply hurt. It is used in reports of accidents, conflict, violence, and medical emergencies, where it indicates physical injury without specifying the severity or nature of the harm. The word also has a well-established figurative use: a person can be emotionally wounded by rejection, betrayal, grief, or a painful experience. As the past tense and past participle of the verb wound, it describes an act that has already happened: “the building was wounded by shelling,” for example. Wounded is more formal and evocative than hurt, especially when describing serious physical or emotional harm, but it remains general rather than technical. Its long history in English and its ability to describe both bodily injury and lasting psychological pain make it a useful word across medical, military, literary, and everyday contexts.
Physically injured or hurt, especially as a result of violence, combat, or an accident.
"The wounded passengers were treated at the scene."
Wounded is often used before a noun, as in wounded civilians, and is also common in reports of combat and emergencies.
The past tense and past participle of wound, meaning to injure or hurt someone or something.
"He was wounded by shrapnel during the attack."
In this form, wounded functions as a finite verb when used with a subject or as a past participle in passive or perfect constructions.
Wounded has crossed from battlefield reports into the language of emotional pain: we speak of feelings being wounded even when no body has been injured.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does wounded come from?
The word’s roots lie in Old English wund, meaning “injury” or “wound,” and in the related Old English wundian, meaning “to wound” or “injure.” The modern form developed in Middle English as both an adjective and the past tense and past participle of wound. Its meaning expanded naturally from physical injury to figurative emotional hurt, while remaining closely connected to the older English word wound.
How wounded is actually used
Wounded is neutral in tone and is common in medical, military, and journalistic contexts. For less serious emotional distress, hurt is usually more natural, while wounded can suggest a deeper or more enduring psychological effect.