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

Testimony indicated that Polk had been providing in-home care for Margolick for several years after the older woman had COVID-19 and became bedridden and Zarnowitz hired nursing care for his wife. —Christina Hall, Freep.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Fore was once bedridden after a car crash at age 15. —Raven Brunner, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025

Authorities said the child in that case has been left bedridden. —Megan Forrester, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2025

Jagger and Tyler cheering up a bedridden Phil Collins in a hospital. —David Browne, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 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)