| Election Name: | 1878 Bristol by-election |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Turnout: | 68.96% |
| Registered: | 24,851 |
| Next Year: | 1880 |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1874 United Kingdom general election |
| Previous Year: | 1874 |
| Next Election: | 1880 United Kingdom general election |
| Seats For Election: | Constituency of Bristol |
| Candidate1: | Lewis Fry |
| Image1: | Lib |
| Party1: | Liberal Party (UK) |
| Popular Vote1: | 9,342 |
| Percentage1: | 54.51% |
| Candidate2: | Ivor Guest |
| Party2: | Conservative Party (UK) |
| Popular Vote2: | 7,795 |
| Percentage2: | 45.49% |
| MP | |
| Before Election: | Kirkman Hodgson |
| Before Party: | Liberal Party (UK) |
| After Election: | Lewis Fry |
| After Party: | Liberal Party (UK) |
The 1878 Bristol by-election was fought on 14 December 1878. The by-election was fought due to the resignation of the incumbent Liberal MP, Kirkman Hodgson. It was won by the Liberal candidate Lewis Fry.