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
Adjective
These songs are atmospheric the way Thin Lizzy on the jukebox electrifies a room, closer to bodily possession than mere catchiness. Linnie Greene, SPIN, 6 Mar. 2024 The lawsuit claims deprivation of liberty interest and bodily integrity, wrongful death, battery and assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, gross negligence and loss of consortium. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 Gravity and bodily movements can help the baby descend and get into a more optimal position. Parents Editors, Parents, 4 Mar. 2024 Smith was charged with assault causing bodily injury/family violence and continuous violence against family, the release said. Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Mar. 2024 Human appreciation for visual art may stem from art’s capability to engage the viewer’s body in a manner resembling the bodily signatures of survival-salient emotions, a Finnish study suggests. Natasha Gural, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 For You Magnesium is key for many bodily processes, and not getting enough of the mineral can negatively impact your health. Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 20 Feb. 2024 Caro-Mena has since been charged in Miami-Dade with third-degree grand theft auto, fleeing police at high speed and leaving the scene of a crash with no serious bodily injury. Omar Rodríguez Ortiz, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2024 Reed, 35, pleaded guilty to felony substantial battery intended to inflict bodily harm and misdemeanor disorderly conduct. Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024
Adverb
Reproductive justice values emphasize bodily autonomy, access to comprehensive healthcare, and the right to make informed decisions about one’s body and health. Larada Lee, Essence, 9 Mar. 2024 The elements correlate with the seasons, life phases, bodily organs, and, according to Methodos, leadership qualities: Water for patience, wood for drive, fire for spirit, earth for pragmatism, and metal for harmony and justice. Leila Milgrim, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2024 There is, of course, power to be gained by a beautiful woman who is willing to transgress the boundaries of bodily modesty. Kayla Bartsch, National Review, 10 Jan. 2024 There, De la Loza’s powerful bodily protest images hang within view of Ken Gonzales-Day‘s elegant photographs of California hang trees. Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2024 Adopting a high concept usually fit for farce, Alex Schaad and his brother, co-writer and actor Dimitrij Schaad, take on the body swap premise in search of more, destabilizing their characters’ notions of gender and bodily autonomy along the way. J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 3 Feb. 2024 Apparently, bodily harm or death doesn’t apply if two patrol officers face bodily harm or death getting dragged by a car. Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 27 Jan. 2024 He was best known for his floor pieces — tile-like squares of zinc, copper, steel, aluminum and other metals arranged into larger squares or triangles, meant to be walked on so they could be experienced bodily as well as visually. Randy Kennedy, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2024 Brand was arrested and faces charges of gross vehicular manslaughter, evading causing death and causing great bodily injured. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bodily.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 18 Mar. 2024.

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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