bullfight

American  

[bool-fahyt] / ˈbʊlˌfaɪt /

noun

• bullfights
  plural

1. a traditional Spanish, Portuguese, or Latin American spectacle in which a bull is fought by a matador, assisted by banderilleros and picadors, in a prescribed way in an arena and is usually killed.

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bullfight British  

/ ˈbʊlˌfaɪt /

noun

1. a traditional Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American spectacle in which a matador, assisted by banderilleros and mounted picadors, baits and usually kills a bull in an arena

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• bullfighter
  noun
• bullfighting
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• bullfights
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of bullfight

First recorded in 1745–55; bull ¹ + fight

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bullfight bullfights

Olé, they yelled, as if spectators at a bullfight.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

He still recalls the exact date in 1982 when he performed guanniu at a national ethnic-minority sports meet, and a senior government official called it "a true Chinese-style bullfight".

From Barron's ● Jun. 28, 2026

Beneath the clipped prose and bullfight bravado is a meditation on appetite, both emotional and physical.

From Salon ● Nov. 8, 2025

There was a parade, a bullfight, several Catholic Masses — and ample opportunity to share the food, language and culture of a quietly powerful community tucked into California’s farmlands.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2024

Chet released from his trumpet the opening, lifting, barbaric call of a bullfight, and the circle of boys broke wildly over Brinker.

From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles

“Funny,” Brett remarks, absorbing quickly the nuances of bullfights, “how one doesn’t mind the blood.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

Socorro’s social nature, her spunk and her adaptability were likely rooted in her early childhood experiences tagging along with her father to bullfights and bars.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 5, 2025

Since 2013, several of Mexico’s 32 states have banned bullfights.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 6, 2023

Unlike in other cities, he says, many people go to bullfights here more for the festive atmosphere than to admire the spectacle.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2023

Rick said, “Do you know how bullfights ended?”

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick

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