Unconsciousness: meaning, definitions and examples

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unconsciousness

[ˌʌnˈkɒn.ʃəs.nəs ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

medical

Unconsciousness is the state of being unaware of one's surroundings, sensations, or thoughts. It can be caused by trauma, medical conditions, or substances such as drugs or alcohol.

Synonyms

coma, insensibility, stupor.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
unconsciousness	A state in which a person is not awake and is unaware of their surroundings, typically after a sudden event such as an accident or injury. The patient remained in a state of unconsciousness for several hours after the car crash. Fainting can cause temporary unconsciousness.
coma	A deep state of prolonged unconsciousness where a person cannot be awakened, usually due to severe illness or trauma. It often requires medical intervention. The car accident left him in a coma for six months. Doctors are monitoring the patient who has been in a coma since the surgery.
insensibility	A lack of physical sensation or the inability to feel pain and other stimuli, often used in a medical or technical sense. The patient's insensibility to pain can be a symptom of nerve damage. Due to extreme cold, the mountaineer began to experience a dangerous insensibility in his fingers and toes.
stupor	A state of near-unconsciousness or reduced awareness, where a person is slow to respond and appears dazed or confused. This can occur due to various reasons, like alcohol, drugs, or concussion. After the accident, she was in a stupor and could barely speak. The medication left him in a stupor, barely responsive to questions.

Examples of usage

He fell into unconsciousness after hitting his head.
The doctor diagnosed her with temporary unconsciousness due to low blood sugar.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

psychology

In psychology, unconsciousness refers to the part of the mind that is inaccessible to conscious awareness, but still influences behavior and emotions.

Synonyms

subconscious, subliminal, unawareness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
unconsciousness	Referring to a state where a person is not awake or aware of their surroundings, usually due to injury, illness, or sleep. She fell into unconsciousness after the accident. The doctor monitored the patient's level of unconsciousness.
subconscious	Describing mental processes that happen without conscious awareness, influencing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. His subconscious fears influenced his decision. The dream revealed her subconscious thoughts.
unawareness	Describing a lack of knowledge or awareness about something, often leading to unintended consequences. His unawareness of the rules got him into trouble. She acted out of unawareness of the true situation.
subliminal	Referring to stimuli that are below the level of conscious awareness but can still influence thoughts and behavior. The advertisement used subliminal messages to attract customers. There are claims that subliminal signals can affect our choices.

Examples of usage

Sigmund Freud explored the concept of the unconscious in his psychoanalytic theories.
The therapist helped her uncover unconscious thoughts and feelings.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin 'conscious,' meaning 'to be aware,' with 'un-' meaning 'not.'
It appeared in English around the 19th century, gaining prominence in psychology and medicine.

Psychology

In psychological terms, unconsciousness includes both sleep and states where people cannot respond, like during anesthesia.
Freud proposed that unconscious thoughts influence our behaviors and feelings, shaping our dreams and daily actions.

Medicine

Unconsciousness can be caused by various factors, including lack of oxygen, head injuries, or medical conditions like stroke.
Medical professionals often use the Glasgow Coma Scale to assess the level of a person's consciousness.

Pop Culture

In movies and literature, characters often enter unconscious states, leading to plot twists or character revelations.
The term has been featured in many psychological thrillers, reflecting the fascination with the mind's unknown parts.

Philosophy

Philosophers debate the nature of consciousness and unconsciousness, pondering what it means to truly 'know' or 'be aware.'
Discussions around unconsciousness often involve timeless questions about existence and human perception.

Translations

Translations of the word "unconsciousness" in other languages:

🇵🇹 inconsciência

🇮🇳 बेहोशी

🇩🇪 Bewusstlosigkeit

🇮🇩 ketidaksadaran

🇺🇦 непритомність

🇵🇱 nieprzytomność

🇯🇵 意識不明

🇫🇷 inconscience

🇪🇸 inconsciencia

🇹🇷 bilinçsizlik

🇰🇷 무의식

🇸🇦 فقدان الوعي

🇨🇿 bezvědomí

🇸🇰 bezvedomie

🇨🇳 无意识

🇸🇮 nezavest

🇮🇸 meðvitundarleysi

🇰🇿 санасыздық

🇬🇪 გულგრილობა

🇦🇿 huşsuzluq

🇲🇽 inconsciencia

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #18,151, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.

...
18148 regressive
18149 rumble
18150 utilise
18151 unconsciousness
18152 alibi
18153 heartless
18154 eschatological
...