Phrase guide

bleeding edge

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˈbliː.dɪŋ ɛd͡ʒ/
  • Australian: /ˈbliː.dɪŋ ed͡ʒ/
  • Australian: [ˈblɪi.dɪŋ ed͡ʒ]
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The situation produced when the image extends beyond the nominal margin.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: cartography, geography, media, natural-sciences, printing, publishing

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Something too new and untested to be reliable or to have any assurance of safety; the figurative place where such things exist.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Topics: engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, technology

Examples

  • on the bleeding edge (of something)

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Blend of bleed + leading edge, and metaphorically alluding to the cutting edge (“forefront or position of greatest advancement in some field”) as a double-edged sword.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Polish: bardzo nowoczesna rzecz — something too new and untested to be reliable
  • Spanish: vanguardia precaria — something too new and untested to be reliable