1
: having a body : physical
2
: of or relating to the body
bodily comfort
bodily organs
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
Jack Kroll2
: as a whole : altogether
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
Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025
They were then smuggled across the border and transported to Hartford area residences, including Sanchez’s residence on Madison Street in Hartford, often at a substantial risk of bodily injury or death.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 12 Apr. 2025
Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 13 Apr. 2025
On Earth, bodily fluids are pooled in the lower body, but in microgravity, which is what's on the International Space Station, astronauts' bodily fluids begin to move toward the upper part of the body and head.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bodily
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Adjective
Mosser’s office determined that none of the officers should be charged with using deadly force given the reasonable belief that the force was necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to themselves or others.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025
They were then smuggled across the border and transported to Hartford area residences, including Sanchez’s residence on Madison Street in Hartford, often at a substantial risk of bodily injury or death.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 12 Apr. 2025
Adverb
At the same time, the book and the show both prove that the only response to these kinds of attacks on democracy and bodily autonomy need to be met with a forceful resistance.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 13 Apr. 2025
On Earth, bodily fluids are pooled in the lower body, but in microgravity, which is what's on the International Space Station, astronauts' bodily fluids begin to move toward the upper part of the body and head.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bodily
Cite this Entry
“Bodily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bodily. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
bodily
adjective
bodi·ly
ˈbäd-ᵊl-ē 
: of or relating to the body
bodily organs
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