bruise

1 of 2

noun

ˈbrüz 

1

a

: an injury involving rupture of small blood vessels and discoloration without a break in the overlying skin : contusion

b

: a similar injury to plant tissue

2

: abrasion, scratch

3

: an injury especially to the feelings

criticisms that left a bruise

bruise

2 of 2

verb

bruised; bruising

transitive verb

1

: to inflict an injury involving rupture of small blood vessels and discoloration without a break in the overlying skin or a similar injury to plant tissue : to inflict a bruise (see bruise entry 1 sense 1) on : contuse

bruised her arm when he grabbed her

2

: to break down (leaves, berries, etc.) by pounding : crush

3

: wound, injure

especially : to inflict psychological hurt on

The professional and personal tumbles that have bruised your ego in the past 12 months are over.

—New Woman

4

a

: batter, dent

bruise armor

b

archaic : disable

intransitive verb

1

: to bear or show the effects of a bruise : to undergo bruising

her skin bruises easily

2

: to inflict a bruise

Synonyms

Noun

• scratch
• contusion
• bump

Examples of bruise in a Sentence

Noun

He had a bad bruise on his leg after he fell.

a bruise on an apple

Verb

She bruised her knee when she fell.

I don't want to bruise anyone's feelings.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The trade that sent him to Los Angeles, though, left visible bruises all over Dončić. —Dan Woike, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025

The bandages and bruises only underline the physicality of Hawke’s performance. —Judy Berman, Time, 23 Sep. 2025

Verb

Skin around the bite may bruise or turn blueish, resulting in a bulls-eye look, according to the Cleveland Clinic. —Evan Mealins, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Sep. 2025

But Democrats need to make sure races like Michigan don’t get harsh enough to leave the eventual nominee bruised. —Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 23 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

noun derivative of bruise entry 2

Verb

Middle English brusen, brisen, from Anglo-French & Old English; Anglo-French bruiser, briser to break, of Celtic origin; akin to Old Irish bruid he shatters; Old English brȳsan to bruise; akin to Old Irish bruid, Latin frustum piece

First Known Use

Noun

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 4b

Rhymes for bruise

• blues
• boos
• booze
• brews
• chews
• choose
• chuse
• clews
• clues
• coups
• crews
• cruise

Kids Definition

bruise

1 of 2 verb

ˈbrüz 

bruised; bruising

1

a

: to cause a bruise on

b

: to become bruised

2

: to crush (as leaves or berries) by pounding

3

: to hurt the feelings of

bruise

2 of 2 noun

1

: an injury (as from a blow) in which the skin is not broken but is discolored from the breaking of small blood vessels that lie underneath the skin : contusion

2

: an injury to a plant or fruit that resembles a bruise

Medical Definition

bruise

1 of 2 verb

ˈbrüz 

bruised; bruising

transitive verb

1

: to inflict a bruise on : contuse

2

: wound, injure

especially : to inflict psychological hurt on

intransitive verb

: to undergo bruising

she bruises easily

bruise

2 of 2 noun

1

: an injury transmitted through unbroken skin to underlying tissue causing rupture of small blood vessels and escape of blood into the tissue with resulting discoloration : contusion

2

: an injury especially to the feelings