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

Grover Tully The old, bedridden Lord of Riverrun, who is only mentioned and never seen. —Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2024

Each sibling is struggling in their own way — the Rumor has lost her powers, the White Violin is bedridden after a serious injury and Spaceboy is near-catatonic. —Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 8 Aug. 2024

One desperate father can’t find a job except working at Walmart as a greeter; Fran Perfetti is worn out by caring for her bedridden mother and dealing with an endless round of medical bills; Councilman Egidio Figulli keeps hounding Carlucci to retire. —Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 18 July 2024

Set in Los Angeles, circa 1920s, the visually striking movie charts the story of an immigrant girl in a hospital recovering from a fall who strikes up a friendship with a bedridden man. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 15 July 2024

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

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)