noun
Etymology
Origin of bloodshed
Explanation
Use the word bloodshed to mean people being killed or wounded, especially during a war. A strong dislike of bloodshed might keep a person from joining the military. You can use the noun bloodshed to talk about any kind of violence: "My mom never let me play those video games when I was growing up, because of all the bloodshed." It's most commonly used to refer to the major side effect of war, the death and injury of many humans. Bloodshed dates from the 1500s, meaning "the shedding of one's blood" or "slaughter."
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.
Motoki portrays Murashige as curiously recessive — someone who has laid waste to myriad foes and has now lost his taste for bloodshed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
“We cannot accept bloodshed on American streets without accountability,” said Roman Palomares, LULAC’s national president.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
Among survivors, I encountered palpable frustration at the lack of resolution, dearth of attention from law enforcement, and the ease with which the bloodshed left the headlines.
From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026
The French president is eager for Sharaa to maintain his pledge to protect minorities, after sectarian bloodshed in Syria's Alawite and Druze heartlands last year.
From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026
Quinzy had his back pressed against one wall, but there were no signs of bloodshed or torn clothing.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
