What does bullfight mean?
A bullfight is a formal public spectacle, most closely associated with Spain and parts of Latin America such as Mexico, Peru, and Colombia, in which a trained performer called a matador confronts a bull in an arena known as a bullring. A typical bullfight unfolds in structured stages: the bull enters the ring, picadors and banderilleros weaken and maneuver it, and the performance culminates when the matador kills the animal with a sword. In Spanish-speaking countries the event is traditionally called a corrida de toros. Bullfights are deeply embedded in the culture of regions where they are held, often tied to local festivals, yet they are also among the most contested spectacles in the modern world: many people regard them as cruelty to animals rather than art, and several territories have banned them outright. In everyday English, 'bullfight' denotes a single such event, while 'bullfighting' refers to the activity as a whole.
nounA traditional public spectacle, especially in Spain and parts of Latin America, in which a matador and other performers fight and ultimately kill a bull in an arena.
- A public spectacle in which a matador fights and kills a bull in an arena, especially in Spain and Latin America.
"Thousands of spectators packed the stands to watch the afternoon bullfight in Seville."
"The crowd roared as the matador entered the ring for the final act of the bullfight."
"Animal-rights activists have campaigned for decades to ban bullfights across Spain."
Regular plural; used when referring to multiple events.
"Bullfights were once held weekly in the city's historic arena."
The English word 'bullfight' is a straightforward compound — but the spectacle it names dates back centuries and remains one of the world's most controversial traditions.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bullfight
The word 'bullfight' is a compound of 'bull' and 'fight', formed in English by straightforward combination of two native Germanic words. 'Bull' traces back to Old English 'bula', while 'fight' comes from Old English 'feohtan'. The compound arose in English during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, as British travelers and writers described the corridas they witnessed in Spain, though the spectacle itself is far older, with roots in ancient Iberian bull cults and medieval aristocratic games on horseback. Related derivatives include 'bullfighter', for the performer; 'bullfighting', for the practice; and 'bullring', for the arena.
Related word forms
How bullfight is actually used
The word is a countable noun with a regular plural ('bullfights'). The broader practice or sport is usually called 'bullfighting', while a single event is a 'bullfight' (Spanish: corrida de toros). Because bullfighting is banned or restricted in some regions and legally contested even where it persists, the word can carry strong connotations — festive and cultural to supporters, cruel and barbaric to critics.
Easily confused with bullfight
'Bullyfight' is not a standard English word; 'bullfight' refers specifically to the Spanish-style spectacle of fighting a bull.