What does "bodily" mean?
Of, relating to, or concerning the body.
Bodily
/ˈbɑdɪli/ adj, adv, name
adj, adv, name ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Of, relating to, or concerning the body.
- Grammar: bodily is listed as adj, adv, name.
- Nearest alternatives: corporeal, somatic, across the board, adamic.
- Useful contrasts: cerebral, cognitive attribute, cognitive skills.
- Usage evidence: While you are asleep, the bodily functions slow down and body temperature falls.
How to use "bodily"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "bodily" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "bodily" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "bodily" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "bodily" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "bodily" is acting as adj, adv, name in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "corporeal" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "bodily", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Adjective
- 1 Of, relating to, or concerning the body.
"His bodily deficiencies were a heavy burden to him."
- 2 Having a body or material form; physical; corporeal.
"You are a mere spirit, and have no knowledge of the bodily part of us."
- 3 Real; actual; put into execution.
"Be brought to bodily act."
Adjective
- 1 having or relating to a physical material body wordnet
- 2 affecting or characteristic of the body as opposed to the mind or spirit wordnet
- 3 of or relating to or belonging to the body wordnet
Adverb
- 1 In bodily form; physically, corporally. not-comparable
"For in him dwelleth all the fulneſſe of the Godhead bodily."
- 2 Pertaining to the whole body or mass; wholly. not-comparable
"The papering of one side of the room had dropped down bodily, with fragments of plaster adhering to it, and almost blocked up the door."
- 3 Forcefully, vigorously. not-comparable
"He was thrown bodily out of the house."
Adverb
- 1 in bodily form wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"While you are asleep, the bodily functions slow down and body temperature falls."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "bodily"?
Common synonyms include: corporeal, somatic, across the board, adamic, all, all put together.
How do you use "bodily" in a sentence?
While you are asleep, the bodily functions slow down and body temperature falls.
How do you pronounce "bodily"?
Pronounced /ˈbɑdɪli/.
Etymology
From Middle English bodily; equivalent to body + -ly.