bloody
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
An expletive used, without reference to meaning, as an adjective and an adverb, simply for intensification.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “bloody” mean?
An expletive used, without reference to meaning, as an adjective and an adverb, simply for intensification.
Is “bloody” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.