bodily

1 of 2

adjective

bodi·​ly ˈbä-də-lē 

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

Synonyms

Adjective

• animal
• carnal
• corporal
• corporeal
• fleshly
• material
• physical
• somatic

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

Adjective

Those two incidents would bring charges under the state’s Little Lindbergh Law, which permitted the death penalty in kidnapping with bodily injury. —Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2024

Tricia Cavanaugh, 36, pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury on Sept. 3, eight years after her 4-month-old daughter, Celina, died. —Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 26 Sep. 2024

Adverb

His writhing and flailing, verbally as well as bodily, serve as the 11 o’clock number. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2024

But bodily fluids appear to be the primary means of transmission among chickens and turkeys, according to USDA. —Kenny Torrella, Vox, 4 June 2024

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

Kids Definition

bodily

1 of 2 adjective

bodi·​ly ˈbäd-ᵊl-ē 

: 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 

: of or relating to the body

bodily organs