full-blooded

American

[fool-bluhd-id] / ˈfʊlˈblʌd ɪd /

adjective

of unmixed ancestry; thoroughbred.

a full-blooded Cherokee.
vigorous; virile; hearty.

full-blooded enjoyment.

full-blooded British

adjective

(esp of horses) of unmixed ancestry; thoroughbred
having great vigour or health; hearty; virile

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

full-bloodedness noun

Etymology

Origin of full-blooded

An Americanism dating back to 1765–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Festive fixtures are a big deal in the NFL these days, and despite four of the six teams in action already being out of the play-offs all three games were full-blooded encounters.

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2025

The division between the clubs is reflected on the pitch in both playing styles and full-blooded encounters.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2025

“The first full-blooded Asian champion!” one user said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2024

And we have seen it all so far - a goal against the run of play, a well-taken equaliser, penalty shouts and more than a few full-blooded tackles.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2024

Some phrases beginning with full are hyphenated: full-blooded, full-blown, full- bodied, full-bore, full-fledged, full-scale, full-service, full-size, full-time, and so on.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023