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 of bodily

Adjective

• physical

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

Oakland police also asserted an exemption to a California law that requires the release within 45 days of body-cam footage in critical incidents when a peace officer discharges a firearm at a person, or when use of force results in death or great bodily injury. —Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 7 Dec. 2025

This virus is transmitted through direct contact with infected blood or bodily fluids. —Sherri Gordon, Parents, 5 Dec. 2025

Adverb

When reading the script, Burn saw — or, perhaps more accurately, heard — what a dynamic ambient soundscape could do to bodily pull viewers into Agnes’s world, if it were paired with the right approach to cinematography. —Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 28 Nov. 2025

Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, 28, was indicted and charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while traveling on an aircraft. —Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 24 Nov. 2025

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

Rhymes for bodily

• caudally

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