noun

bloodletting

noun

The old medical practice of draining blood from a patient believed to cure illness.

"Bloodletting was a common medical treatment until the 19th century."

(figurative) A painful reduction of something, such as staff or funding, in hopes of improving the situation.

"The company's budget cuts led to a painful round of bloodletting in the marketing department."

How to Use Bloodletting

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishHistorically, draining blood as a treatment; today often used figuratively for painful cutbacks.

Common pairings

a round of bloodletting corporate bloodletting

bloodlettings plural

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_____ was a common medical treatment until the 19th century.

From "blood" plus "letting" (from the verb "let," meaning to release) — literally, releasing blood.

petting setting wetting getting letting betting netting vetting abetting fretting upsetting resetting