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.

NEW DELHI—At a splashy celebration in the Indian capital featuring Bollywood dance numbers and special guest U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

Through the years, she was often compared to her elder sister - who was revered as the "nightingale" of Bollywood and died in 2022 - but Bhosle built a distinct identity.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

Her range and vitality made every song a celebration and defined the sound of Bollywood for generations.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

During the coronavirus pandemic, she rewatched all of the "Twilight" vampire romance films, which were released from 2008 to 2012, and Bollywood flicks from the 1990s.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

“When you and I began to talk on the boards, I thought I should watch a couple of Bollywood movies on Netflix, figure out how to be sensitive to your culture and all that.”

From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon

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