bullfight

noun

bull·​fight ˈbu̇l-ˌfīt How to pronounce bullfight (audio)
 also  ˈbəl-
: a spectacle in which men ceremonially fight with and in Hispanic tradition kill bulls in an arena for public entertainment
bullfighter
ˈbu̇l-ˌfī-tər How to pronounce bullfight (audio)
 also  ˈbəl-
noun

Examples of bullfight in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Seven other countries around the world also hold bullfights: Ecuador, Spain, Colombia, France, Peru, Portugal and Venezuela. Jack Guy, CNN, 29 Jan. 2024 And the bullfight backdrop of the finale is here reimagined as a rodeo, complete with clowns wearing garish costumes sewn from Texas-esque flags. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 1 Jan. 2024 The roughly minute-long video might be best described as the French-Canadian version of a bullfight. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 26 Oct. 2023 Botero decided at age 14 to dedicate his life to the arts, after managing to sell some sketches of bullfights to fans outside the city's bullfighting arena. Manuel Rueda The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2023 For its annual fiesta this July, Teruel — which traces its founding to Christian soldiers repelling a Muslim attack of bulls with their horns on fire and especially one that survived to take a siesta — has rejected a May law passed by the Spanish Parliament that seemed to prohibit comic bullfights. Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 12 July 2023 Opponents of Spain’s comic shows at bullfights by people with dwarfism say they are banned by a new law. Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 12 July 2023 Harlequin Picasso, bullfight Picasso, the poets’ Picasso, the GIs’ Picasso. Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2023 In my childhood, the Mexicans seduced me with bullfights, handmade tortillas, and the perpetual gossip and tall tales that only tias and abuelitas can pull off. Time, 11 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bullfight.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bullfight was in 1788

Dictionary Entries Near bullfight

Cite this Entry

“Bullfight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bullfight. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bullfight

noun
bull·​fight ˈbu̇l-ˌfīt How to pronounce bullfight (audio)
: a public entertainment in which people excite bulls, display daring in escaping their charges, and finally kill them
bullfighter noun
bullfighting noun

More from Merriam-Webster on bullfight

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