adj
Uncommon
bodily
BO-dih-lee
Bodily (adj) means relating to or concerning the physical body, rather than the mind or spirit. Example: “The injury caused severe bodily harm.”
adj
1
Relating to or concerning the physical body, rather than the mind or spirit.
"The injury caused severe bodily harm."
"He described the bodily sensations of fear — sweating, a racing heart, tense muscles."
"Hunger and thirst are bodily needs that everyone shares."
adv
1
As a whole physical unit; entirely, with the whole body at once.
"Security guards carried the protester bodily out of the building."
"The wind lifted the small boy bodily off his feet."
"The crowd surged forward and threw itself bodily against the gate."
How to use bodily
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with the physical body — or, as an adverb, moving something as a whole physical mass.
Common mistake
In legal and medical contexts "bodily harm" specifically means physical injury, distinct from emotional or financial harm.
Common pairings
bodily harm
bodily functions
carried bodily
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more bodily
- Superlative
- most bodily
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The injury caused severe _____ harm.
Etymology
From Middle English bodily, built from body plus the suffix -ly.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for bodily
See all rhymes for bodily →Frequently asked questions
What does “bodily” mean?
The word “bodily” means relating to or concerning the physical body, rather than the mind or spirit. In plain terms, to do with the physical body — or, as an adverb, moving something as a whole physical mass.
How do you pronounce “bodily”?
“Bodily” is pronounced BO-dih-lee (/ˈbɑdɪli/ in IPA).
How do you use “bodily” in a sentence?
Here is “bodily” used in a sentence: “The injury caused severe bodily harm.”
What is another word for “bodily”?
Words with a similar meaning to “bodily” include corporal, corporeal, carnal and physical.
What part of speech is “bodily”?
Depending on how it is used, “bodily” can be an adjective and an adverb.
Where does the word “bodily” come from?
The word “bodily” comes from Middle English. From Middle English bodily, built from body plus the suffix -ly.
Is “bodily” a common word?
“Bodily” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “bodily” have?
“Bodily” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to or concerning the physical body, rather than the mind or spirit.
What is the difference between bodily and physical?
Bodily specifically relates to the human body, as in bodily harm or bodily functions, while physical is broader and can describe the body, physical objects, or physical laws more generally. Bodily is more narrowly focused on the body itself, distinguishing it from the mind or spirit.
What does it mean to remove someone bodily?
To remove someone bodily means to physically pick up or move their whole body at once, using force rather than persuasion. This adverbial use of bodily emphasizes acting on the entire physical body as a unit.
What is bodily harm in a legal context?
Bodily harm refers to physical injury inflicted on a person's body, a phrase commonly used in legal and medical contexts such as "grievous bodily harm." It specifically concerns the physical body rather than psychological or emotional injury.
