Phrase guide

electric shock

noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

An instance of subjecting (someone or something) to an electric shock.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • The newer taser delivered a more powerful electric shock to the target than the older one did.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The physical reaction or shock caused by the flow of electricity through the body.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a reflex response to the passage of electric current through the body

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • subjects received a small electric shock when they made the wrong response
  • electricians get accustomed to occasional shocks

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: electrical shock, shock

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: reflex, reflex response, reflex action, instinctive reflex, innate reflex, inborn reflex, unconditioned reflex, physiological reaction

4

noun

Meaning 4

the use of electricity to administer punishment or torture

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • they used cattle prods to administer electric shocks

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: torture, torturing, corporal punishment

5

noun

Meaning 5

trauma caused by the passage of electric current through the body (as from contact with high voltage lines or being struck by lightning); usually involves burns and abnormal heart rhythm and unconsciousness

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: injury, hurt, harm, trauma

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

45 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: صَدْمَة كَهْرَبَائِيَّة (ṣadma kahrabāʔiyya) — physical reaction
  • Bulgarian: то́ков у́дар (tókov údar) — physical reaction
  • Chinese Mandarin: 電擊 /电击 (diànjī) — physical reaction
  • Chinese Mandarin: 電震 /电震 (diànzhèn) — physical reaction
  • Danish: elektrisk stød — physical reaction
  • Estonian: elektrilöök — physical reaction
  • Estonian: elektrišokk — physical reaction
  • Finnish: sähköshokki — physical reaction
  • Finnish: sähköisku — physical reaction
  • French: choc électrique — physical reaction
  • French: électrisation — physical reaction
  • Georgian: დენის დარტყმა (denis darṭq̇ma) — physical reaction
  • German: Stromschlag — physical reaction
  • German: elektrischer Schlag — physical reaction
  • German: Elektroschock — physical reaction
  • Greek: ηλεκτροπληξία (ilektroplixía) — physical reaction
  • Greek: ηλεκτροσόκ (ilektrosók) — physical reaction
  • Hindi: विद्युताघात (vidyutāghāt) — physical reaction
  • Hungarian: áramütés — physical reaction
  • Japanese: 電撃 (dengeki) — physical reaction
  • Korean: 감전 (gamjeon) — physical reaction
  • Māori: poutukitanga — physical reaction
  • Māori: poutukitanga hiko — physical reaction
  • Māori: pōtukitanga — physical reaction
  • Norwegian Bokmål: elektrisk støt — physical reaction
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: elektrisk støyt — physical reaction
  • Polish: elektrowstrząs — physical reaction
  • Portuguese: choque elétrico — physical reaction
  • Portuguese: eletrochoque — physical reaction
  • Romanian: șoc electric — physical reaction
  • Russian: электрошо́к (elektrošók) — physical reaction
  • Russian: пораже́ние электри́ческим то́ком (poražénije elektríčeskim tókom) — physical reaction
  • Spanish: shock eléctrico — physical reaction
  • Spanish: descarga eléctrica — physical reaction
  • Spanish: electroshock — physical reaction
  • Spanish: electrochoque — physical reaction
  • Swedish: elstöt — physical reaction
  • Swedish: elektrisk stöt — physical reaction
  • Swedish: elchock — physical reaction
  • Swedish: elektrochock — physical reaction
  • Tamil: ஷாக் (ṣāk) — physical reaction
  • Turkish: elektrik çarpması — physical reaction
  • Turkish: elektrik şoku — physical reaction
  • Vietnamese: va chạm điện — physical reaction
  • Vietnamese: điện giật — physical reaction