Bollywood

noun

Bol·​ly·​wood ˈbä-lē-ˌwu̇d How to pronounce Bollywood (audio)
: the movie industry in India

Examples of Bollywood in a Sentence

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.
His rattan chairs have seated famed Indian celebrities like members of India’s billionaire Ambani family and Bollywood stars, as well as American bigwigs like Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who visited the restaurant last year. Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2025 The cast includes Arjun Bijlani, Dhanashree Verma, Kubbra Sait, and Kiku Sharda from diverse backgrounds spanning Bollywood, music, politics, entrepreneurship, and social media. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025 From early playback singing in the 1940s to becoming the defining voice of Bollywood’s golden age, her artistry shaped how generations understood romance, longing, and devotion on screen. Mandeep Rai, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025 The son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, Aryan Khan created the series alongside co-creators Bilal Siddiqi and Manav Chauhan, who all also penned the screenplay. Sara Merican, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Bollywood

Word History

Etymology

Bombay (Mumbai), traditional center of the Indian film industry + Hollywood

First Known Use

1969, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Bollywood was in 1969

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Cite this Entry

“Bollywood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Bollywood. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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