bodily
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.relating to the human body rather than the mind or spirit.
adj.relating to or concerning the physical body as opposed to the mental or spiritual faculties.
Simple“The doctor asked if he was experiencing any bodily pain or discomfort.”
In context“The legal definition of 'grievous bodily harm' requires proof of a truly serious physical injury rather than mere temporary pain.”
UsageUsually placed before the noun it describes.
Teacher's tipLearners often confuse this with 'physical'; 'bodily' is more common when discussing functions, fluids, or harm.
- 02 C1 Advanced
adv.moving or lifting someone's entire body, often using force.
adv.in a manner that involves the whole body or physical mass; often used with verbs of carrying or removing.
Simple“The guards picked up the protester and carried him bodily out of the building.”
In context“The bouncers were forced to lift the unruly patron bodily and deposit him on the pavement outside the club's entrance.”
UsageTypically follows the verb and object.
Teacher's tipThis is a specific adverbial use often found in news reports or literature describing physical removal.
Synonyms
Usage bodily harm · bodily fluids · bodily functions
“The driver was charged with dangerous operation causing death and dangerous operation causing bodily harm.”
From Middle English bodily; equivalent to body + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.