bleeding edge

American

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

bleeding edge British

noun

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.

At the bleeding edge of AI, any new feature has the potential to evaporate an incumbent’s lead overnight.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 6, 2026

And it might not be on the bleeding edge of fashion trends.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 3, 2025

On a recent episode of What Next, host Mary Harris spoke to Twilley about the bleeding edge of artificial blood research and why we need more blood in the first place.

From Slate • Sep. 1, 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

“So we think this next season continues that commitment to being the orchestra at the bleeding edge of what a relevant, progressive creative arts institution can and should be,” Smith said.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2023

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