bloody
BLUH-dee
Bloody (adj) means Covered in or stained with blood. Example: “He arrived with a bloody bandage wrapped around his hand.”
adj
1
Covered in or stained with blood.
"He arrived with a bloody bandage wrapped around his hand."
"The footballer had a bloody nose after clashing heads with another player."
"She dabbed at her bloody knee with a clean tissue after the fall."
2
Involving a great deal of violence and killing.
"It was one of the bloodiest battles of the war."
"The documentary described the bloody history of the old fortress and its many sieges."
"Critics said the film was too bloody for younger audiences."
adv
1
(British, informal) Used to add emphasis, often expressing annoyance.
"That's a bloody good idea."
"Mind your bloody language."
"It took me a bloody hour to find a parking space."
How to use bloody
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCovered in blood, or violent; as an intensifier, a mild British swear word for emphasis.
When to use it
The intensifier use is informal and mainly British/Australian, mildly coarse.
Common pairings
bloody hell
a bloody mess
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- bloodies
- Past tense
- bloodied
- Comparative
- bloodier, more bloody
- Superlative
- bloodiest, most bloody
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He arrived with a _____ bandage wrapped around his hand.
Etymology
From Old English blodig, formed from "blood" plus the adjective suffix "-y."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for bloody
See all rhymes for bloody →Frequently asked questions
What does “bloody” mean?
The word “bloody” means covered in or stained with blood. In plain terms, covered in blood, or violent; as an intensifier, a mild British swear word for emphasis.
How do you pronounce “bloody”?
“Bloody” is pronounced BLUH-dee (/ˈblʌ.di/ in IPA).
How do you use “bloody” in a sentence?
Here is “bloody” used in a sentence: “He arrived with a bloody bandage wrapped around his hand.”
What part of speech is “bloody”?
Depending on how it is used, “bloody” can be an adjective and an adverb.
Where does the word “bloody” come from?
The word “bloody” comes from Old English. From Old English blodig, formed from "blood" plus the adjective suffix "-y.".
Is “bloody” a common word?
“Bloody” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “bloody” have?
“Bloody” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: covered in or stained with blood.
What is the difference between "bloody" and "gory"?
Both describe scenes involving blood, but "bloody" means covered in or stained with blood, or involving much violence and killing, as in "a bloody battle." "Gory" emphasises graphic, gruesome detail of blood and injury, as in "a gory horror film."
Why do British speakers use "bloody" as an intensifier?
Beyond its literal meaning of covered in blood, "bloody" is widely used in British and Australian English as an informal intensifier, as in "bloody brilliant" or "bloody hell." In this use it simply adds emphasis and is considered mildly rude in some settings, so it is avoided in formal writing.
Is "bloody" used differently in American English?
Yes. In American English "bloody" is mainly used in its literal senses of covered in blood or marked by violence, as in "a bloody nose" or "a bloody conflict." The informal intensifier use is chiefly British, Irish, and Australian.
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