collision

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "collision" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to accidents, conflicts, or interactions between objects or ideas. Example: "The collision between the two cars resulted in significant damage and injuries."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The German goalkeeper is nothing if not decisive and beats the Algeria forward to the bouncing ball by a split second, heading it out for a throw-in before the inevitable collision between the two players.

The Guardian - Sport

Bottles of high-pressured air came loose in the collision, he claimed, meaning the British submarine had to return slowly to Faslane to prevent them from exploding.

The Guardian

Rob Lowe is to star in a new Sky1 new comedy drama, Apocalypse Slough, in which Earth is on collision course with a comet, alongside Game of Thrones' Joel Fry and Paterson Joseph from Peep Show.

The Guardian

Former staff at the theme park told the Guardian that human error was likely to have played a major part in the collision, which left riders suspended 25ft in the air at a 45-degree angle.

The Guardian

Barring all-out nuclear war or a catastrophic meteor collision, a substantial minority of you will get a toe in the door of the next century – a very wrinkled, arthritic toe, but the same toe you're wearing now.

The Guardian - Books

The site's owner Merlin Entertainments has closed down three rollercoasters at two other amusement parks as it deals with the fallout from last Tuesday's collision, which left four people seriously injured.

The Guardian

The radicalism of Orbán's vision for Hungary has put him on a collision course with Brussels, although the EU is crucial to his plans as Hungary is to receive €34bn (£26.8bn) in European funds over the next four years.

The Guardian

The minister's attitude could place him on a collision course with those who believe the younger generation deserve the same opportunities.

The Guardian - Business

The teenage opener Usman Ghani clipped a leg-stump half-volley to straight midwicket in the first over from Australia's first-change and Asghar Stanikzai's attempt to counterattack resulted in a scythe down to third man, where Smith ran back and avoided a collision with Mitchell Marsh to take a steepling catch.

The Guardian - Sport

The collision looks likely to bring down three European governments.

The Guardian

Neither the image of a Trabant involved in a head-on collision nor the idea of Hungary being on the "periphery of Europe" are in any way helpful.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical contexts, such as physics or engineering, use "collision" to refer specifically to the interaction of objects in contact.

Common error

Avoid using "collision" when you mean a chance occurrence or unplanned event. "Collision" implies a direct impact or conflict, while "coincidence" refers to events happening at the same time by chance.

Linguistic Context

The noun "collision" functions primarily to denote an instance of objects or entities making contact, whether physical or metaphorical. As seen in Ludwig, this includes car accidents, impacts in sports, or even clashes of ideas. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment of its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Sport

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "collision" is a grammatically sound and widely used noun suitable for describing instances of impact or conflict. As Ludwig AI confirms, its versatility allows it to function effectively across diverse contexts, from reporting accidents to discussing abstract disagreements. While the term is generally neutral, its frequent occurrence in news, sports, and science indicates its importance in conveying both physical events and metaphorical interactions. When choosing "collision", ensure it accurately reflects a direct impact rather than a mere coincidence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

head-on crash

Specifically indicates a collision where the front ends of two objects meet.

impact

Focuses on the force or effect of one thing hitting another.

crash

Implies a sudden and often violent impact.

smash

Suggests a forceful breaking or shattering upon impact.

bump

Indicates a minor or gentle impact.

clash

Refers to a conflict or confrontation, not necessarily physical.

incident

A general term for an event, which may or may not involve physical contact.

confrontation

Highlights a face-to-face encounter, often adversarial.

accident

Suggests an unintended and unfortunate event.

encounter

A meeting, which could be coincidental or planned.

FAQs

How can I use "collision" in a sentence?

You can use "collision" to describe a physical impact (e.g., "The "car collision"") or a metaphorical conflict (e.g., "a "collision of ideas"").

What's the difference between "collision" and "crash"?

"Collision" is a general term for two or more things hitting each other. "Crash" is a more forceful and often damaging type of "collision".

What words are similar to "collision"?

Similar words include "impact", "smash", and "incident", depending on the context.

Is "collision" formal or informal?

"Collision" is a neutral term suitable for both formal and informal contexts.