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Glite Dictionary
👑 1688 English event ✌️ Peaceful change
Bloodless Revolution

Bloodless Revolution

8.4
The change of rulers in 1688–1689 that puts William and Mary on the throne with little violence
  • noun
  • /ˈblʌdləs ˌrɛvəˈluːʃən/
translation icon : Revolución Gloriosa
  • Historians often refer to the Glorious Revolution as the Bloodless Revolution because of the lack of large-scale violence in England.

Examples

  • The Bloodless Revolution established parliamentary supremacy over the monarchy in England.

  • The Bloodless Revolution marked a significant turning point in British history.

  • The Bloodless Revolution brought significant political changes to England without widespread conflict.

  • Many historians consider the Bloodless Revolution a model for peaceful change.

  • Historians often refer to the Glorious Revolution as the Bloodless Revolution because of the lack of large-scale violence in England.

  • The Bloodless Revolution brought significant political changes to England without widespread conflict.

  • Many historians consider the Bloodless Revolution a model for peaceful change in governance.

Synonyms

English Revolution
vsBloodless Revolution
1 6.1

A 1688 change in England's rulers that made William and Mary king and queen

is an alternative name that highlights the minimal violent resistance
Glorious Revolution
vsBloodless Revolution
8.2

The removal of King James II in 1688 that makes Parliament stronger and limits the king

focuses instead on the minimal violent resistance during the transfer of power

Surface Forms

Bloodless Revolution singular
Bloodless Revolutions plural

Morphology

bloodless + revolution

The meaning 'a major change achieved with little or no violence' is directly derivable from combining 'bloodless' (without bloodshed) with 'revolution' (a rapid/overthrowing change). This adjective+noun compounding follows standard English patterns and similar formulations exist cross-linguistically, so an average B1 learner who knows both constituents would understand the expression.

Etymology

Bloodless Revolution comes from the events of 1688–89 when William and Mary became rulers of England with almost no fighting, so very little blood was shed; that's why the name means 'a change of power with little or no violence'.