# bloodbath

/ˈbɫədˌbæθ/ (US) · /blˈʌdbɑːθ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bloodbath
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 2. financial or job loss

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a situation where many people lose their jobs or a company loses a lot of money.

For teachers: a figurative term for significant financial losses or large-scale redundancies within an industry or organization.

- The stock market crash was a bloodbath for tech investors.
- Following the merger, the corporate restructuring turned into a bloodbath as hundreds of middle-management positions were eliminated overnight.

### 3. sports or competition

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a game or contest where one side is defeated very badly.

For teachers: a figurative extension referring to a heavy, humiliating defeat or an exceptionally aggressive confrontation in a competitive context.

- The championship game was a bloodbath, with the home team losing by forty points.
- Analysts predicted a close match, but it proved to be a bloodbath as the defending champions dismantled their opponents' defense.

## Examples

- The crash caused a bloodbath in the stock market.
- The sudden loss of the lead player led to a total bloodbath in the final minutes of the game.
- Economists warned that the sudden withdrawal of capital would trigger a bloodbath, wiping out decades of gains for investors who had relied on the stability of the sector.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.