What does corrida mean?
A corrida is the formal term for a Spanish bullfight: a ritualised public spectacle, usually held in a purpose-built ring, in which a matador and his team perform a series of choreographed passes before the bull is killed with a sword thrust. The word is borrowed directly from Spanish, where it literally means 'a running', deriving from the Latin verb currere, 'to run' — the same root that produced 'corridor', 'courier', and 'current'. In English, corrida appears almost exclusively in contexts dealing with Spanish-speaking cultures: travel writing, news coverage, art criticism, and debates over the ethics of bullfighting. It is more specific than the generic term 'bullfight', since a corrida proper follows a fixed three-act structure governed by long tradition. The word is emotionally charged: admirers regard the corrida as an art form steeped in history, while opponents view it as institutionalised cruelty, a controversy that has led several regions, including Catalonia, to ban it.
nounA corrida is a formal Spanish bullfight, typically consisting of a sequence of staged contests in which a matador confronts and ultimately kills a bull in an arena.
- A formal Spanish bullfight in which a matador fights and kills a bull before spectators.
- By extension, a bullfight or similar spectacle in other countries influenced by Spanish tradition.
"Thousands gathered in Seville to watch the season's final corrida."
"The crowd roared as the matador entered the ring for the final corrida of the afternoon."
"Animal-rights protesters demonstrated outside the arena where the annual corrida was held."
Standard English plural, formed regularly with -s.
"The town's plaza has hosted hundreds of corridas since the nineteenth century."
The word 'corrida' literally means 'a running' — it comes from the same Latin verb that gives us 'corridor' and 'courier'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of corrida
Corrida was borrowed into English from Spanish, where corrida de toros means literally 'a running of bulls'. It derives from the Spanish verb correr, 'to run', which descends from the Latin currere, the same root that yields English words such as corridor, courier, current, and course. The word entered English usage during the nineteenth century as British travellers and writers described Spanish bullfighting.
How corrida is actually used
Corrida is a loanword from Spanish, used in English chiefly in writing about Spain, Portugal (with local variants), and Latin American bullfighting traditions. It carries cultural weight: to supporters it names an art form and ritual; to critics it evokes animal cruelty. In general conversation 'bullfight' is far more common.
Easily confused with corrida
A corridor is a long passage in a building, whereas a corrida is a Spanish bullfight — the two words share a root but have entirely different meanings.