Bollywood

American

[bol-ee-wood] / ˈbɒl iˌwʊd /

noun

the motion-picture industry of India, based in Bombay.

Bollywood British

/ ˈbɒlɪˌwʊd /

noun

informal
1. the Indian film industry
2. ( as modifier )
  
  a Bollywood star

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Bollywood

Blend of Bombay and Hollywood

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Bollywood

That's what Bollywood actor Kalki Koechlin and well-known theatre director Sheena Khalid have tried to tackle in their new play Belly of the Beast.

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

He is notorious for his threats against a Bollywood actor who shot two blackbucks, a type of antelope that the Bishnoi sect worships.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

Celebration, unity, representation - this is the message that singer and Bollywood star Nora Fatehi says she's going to bring to Canada's World Cup opening ceremony.

From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026

You know, I grew up on Bollywood where, in a way, the movie was just an excuse for the music.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026

It was just a Bollywood comedy, but I loved it.

From "Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World" by Malala Yousafzai

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023