bodily

1 of 2

adjective

bodi·​ly ˈbä-də-lē How to pronounce bodily (audio)
1
: having a body : physical
2
: of or relating to the body
bodily comfort
bodily organs

bodily

2 of 2

adverb

1
a
: in the flesh
b
: in a manner that involves physically moving someone's body
The blast lifted him bodily into the air.
Jerry Wexler called him a "parasite" and threw him bodily out of his office.Jack Kroll
2
: as a whole : altogether

Examples of bodily in a Sentence

Adjective The victim suffered serious bodily injury. the old man suffered from a number of bodily ailments Adverb The blast lifted him bodily into the air. The house will have to be moved bodily to the new site.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Yates had been sent to prison in October 2017 from San Diego County to serve eight years for first-degree burglary and assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury as a second striker. Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025 Yates, 30, came to the Sacramento County prison from San Diego County after he was convicted of first-degree burglary and assault likely to cause great bodily injury. Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 24 Feb. 2025
Adverb
The idea of being replaced by an identical version of oneself, and then being forced to watch the deception succeed without the ability to warn friends and family, is a kind of nightmare logic playing on core fears of losing control and bodily autonomy. Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025 People who are willing to sacrifice their own freedoms or bodily security for someone else are celebrated in our culture, but also viewed with a bit of suspicion. Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bodily

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bodily was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Bodily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bodily. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

bodily

1 of 2 adjective
bodi·​ly ˈbäd-ᵊl-ē How to pronounce bodily (audio)
: of or relating to the body : physical

bodily

2 of 2 adverb
1
: in the flesh : by the body
removed them bodily
2
: as a whole : entirely

Medical Definition

bodily

adjective
bodi·​ly ˈbäd-ᵊl-ē How to pronounce bodily (audio)
: of or relating to the body
bodily organs

More from Merriam-Webster on bodily

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