bedridden

adjective

bed·​rid·​den ˈbed-ˌri-dᵊn 

variants or less commonly bedrid

ˈbed-ˌrid 

: confined (as by illness) to bed

Examples of bedridden in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Hestrin said the child is bedridden and has cerebral palsy as a result of the abuse. —Madeline Morrison, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2025

Authorities said the child in that case has been left bedridden. —Megan Forrester, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2025

Newsweek Illustration/Getty Images/Courtesy of of WellTheory Rudolph launched WellTheory in 2022 after her own autoimmune disease left her completely bedridden at just 25 years old. —Katherine Fung, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025

As a result, Elisburg needing to have a part of one foot amputated and was bedridden for a month. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English bedrede, bedreden, from Old English bedreda, from bedreda one confined to bed, from bedd bed + -rida, -reda, from rīdan to ride — more at bed entry 1, ride entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bedridden

• unbidden
• bidden
• hidden
• midden
• ridden
• swidden
• gramicidin
• overridden

Kids Definition

bedridden

adjective

bed·​rid·​den ˈbed-ˌrid-ᵊn 

: forced to stay in bed especially by illness or weakness

Medical Definition

bedridden

adjective

bed·​rid·​den ˈbed-ˌrid-ᵊn 

variants also bedrid

-ˌrid 

: confined to bed (as by illness)