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bleeding edge

American  
  1. the most advanced stage of a technology, art, etc., usually experimental and risky.


bleeding edge British  

noun

  1. the very forefront of technological development

"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 bleeding edge

1980–85; patterned on cutting edge or leading edge

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:

While Volkswagen’s new cars are a huge leap from the previous generation, they don’t put the brand at the bleeding edge of Chinese automotive technology, according to analysts.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 2, 2026

Lamphere, it would seem, was on the bleeding edge of a new kind of therapy.

From Slate Jan. 30, 2026

As an MIT computer-science professor, Regina Barzilay was used to living on the bleeding edge of innovation, teaching computers to understand words in the nascent field of natural language processing.

From MarketWatch Nov. 11, 2025

Since the early ’90s, Deftones — the Sacramento-raised, metal-tinged experimentalists — have defined the bleeding edge of heavy guitar rock, working in elements of post-punk, shoegaze, electronics and melancholy whispered vocals.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 6, 2025

Among them are Olivia Dean and Shygirl, who take wildly different approaches to pop music - one steeped in traditional songcraft, the other on the bleeding edge of modern production.

From BBC Jul. 27, 2023

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