bleach

1 of 2

verb

bleached; bleaching; bleaches

transitive verb

1
: to remove color or stains from
2
a
: to make whiter or lighter especially by physical or chemical removal of color
bleach clothing
the sun had bleached her hair
b
: to remove, make dull, or sanitize as if by removing color
bleaches colonialism of its genocidal legacyH. A. Giroux

intransitive verb

1
: to grow white or lose color
2
of coral : to expel symbiotic zooxanthellae exposing a white skeleton
bleachable adjective

bleach

2 of 2

noun

1
: the act or process of bleaching
2
: a preparation used in bleaching
3
: the degree of whiteness obtained by bleaching

Examples of bleach in a Sentence

Verb bones bleached white by the sun She bleached her hair blonde.
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.
Verb
The coral, now bleached, is alive, but slowly starving. Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025 For example, coral reefs are bleaching more often and dying due to ocean warming and acidification, undermining fisheries, marine biodiversity and economic sectors such as tourism. Lauren Gifford, Space.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
Abrasive, acidic, and overall harsh cleaners (bleach among them) can all damage your marble’s surface. Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025 After pumpkins are carved, methods such as using bleach spray and petroleum jelly, or avoiding heat sources can keep your pumpkin fresh. Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bleach

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English blechen, going back to Old English blǣcan, going back to Germanic *blaikjan- (whence also Middle Dutch bleken "to bleach, whiten," Old High German bleichen "to make pale," Old Icelandic bleikja "to bleach"), weak verb derivative of *blaik- "bright" (whence Old English blāc "bright, shining, pale," Old Saxon blēk, Middle Dutch bleec, Old High German bleih, Old Icelandic bleikr), going back to dialectal Indo-European *bhlei̯ǵ-, whence also Old Church Slavic blĭštati sę, bliscati sę "to sparkle, glitter," bliskŭ "flash (of lightning)," Lithuanian blỹksti "to become white or pale," bliskė́ti, bliškė́ti "to shine, sparkle"

Note: See also note at black entry 1.

Noun

derivative of bleach entry 1.

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

1746, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bleach was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

bleach

1 of 2 verb
1
: to remove color or stains from
2
: to make whiter or lighter
3
: to grow white : lose color

bleach

2 of 2 noun
1
: the act or process of bleaching
2
: a chemical used in bleaching

More from Merriam-Webster on bleach

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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