bladder

noun

blad·​der ˈbla-dər 

1

a

: a membranous sac in animals that serves as the receptacle of a liquid or contains gas

especially : urinary bladder

b

: a gas- or air-filled vesicle in certain algae and aquatic plants (such as rockweed) : air bladder sense b

2

: something (such as the rubber bag inside a football) resembling a bladder

bladderlike

ˈbla-dər-līk 

adjective

Examples of bladder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The inner material, or bladder, is the portion of the speed bag that’s inflated to give the speed bag its shape and bounce. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026

Multiple baffles within the bladder help keep the liquid from sloshing around excessively, while a wide waterproof zipper across the top makes for easy filling, cleaning, and adding of electrolytes. —Ben Coxworth may 11, New Atlas, 11 May 2026

Something as comparatively minor as a full bladder or bowel can trigger a dangerous spike in blood pressure because his body senses something is wrong below his spinal injury and doesn’t know how to manage it. —Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 10 May 2026

Stewart became the first commercial patient in Texas to receive the treatment, which entails a drug-releasing system placed directly into the bladder by a urologist. —Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English blǣdre; akin to Old High German blātara bladder, Old English blāwan to blow

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing bladder

• air bladder
• bashful bladder
• bashful bladder syndrome
• bladder campion
• bladder kelp
• bladder worm
• bladder wrack
• giant bladder kelp
• shy bladder
• shy bladder syndrome
• swim bladder
• urinary bladder

Rhymes for bladder

• adder
• ladder
• madder
• sadder
• gallbladder
• stepladder

Kids Definition

bladder

noun

blad·​der ˈblad-ər 

1

: a pouch in an animal in which a liquid or gas is stored

especially : one into which urine passes from the kidneys and is stored temporarily until discharged by way of the urethra

2

: something resembling a bladder

especially : a bag or container that can be blown up with air

bladderlike

-ˌlīk 

adjective

Medical Definition

bladder

noun

blad·​der ˈblad-ər 

1

: a membranous sac in animals that serves as the receptacle of a liquid or contains gas

especially : urinary bladder

2

: a vesicle or pouch forming part of an animal body

the bladder of a tapeworm larva