Phrase guide

blood libel

noun · 4 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

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The false, anti-Semitic accusation that Jews abduct and murder non-Jewish children to use their blood for their religious rituals and holidays.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Qualifier: conspiracy theories

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Any false or purportedly false accusation of murder of a non-Jew by a Jewish person or organization.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Any false or purportedly false accusation of guilt, especially of guilt in mass murder or homicide.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

More generally, any canard or virulent lie about someone.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 血祭誹謗 /血祭诽谤 (xuèjì fěibàng) — accusation that Jews murder children
  • Chinese Mandarin: 血的誹謗 /血的诽谤 (xuè de fěibàng) — accusation that Jews murder children
  • Dutch: bloedsprookje — accusation that Jews murder children
  • Dutch: bloedlaster — accusation that Jews murder children
  • Dutch: bloedsmaad — accusation that Jews murder children
  • Hebrew: עֲלִילַת דָּם ('alilát dam) — accusation that Jews murder children
  • Italian: accusa del sangue — accusation that Jews murder children
  • Japanese: 血の中傷 (chi no chūshō) — accusation that Jews murder children
  • Ladino: desfamasion de sangre — accusation that Jews murder children
  • Ladino: דיספ׳אמאסייון די סאנגרי — accusation that Jews murder children
  • Latin: accūsātiō sanguinis — accusation that Jews murder children
  • Portuguese: libelo de sangue — accusation that Jews murder children
  • Spanish: libelo de sangre — accusation that Jews murder children
  • Spanish: calumnia de sangre — accusation that Jews murder children
  • Yiddish: עלילת־דם (aliles-dam) — accusation that Jews murder children