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

The young boy was bedridden, unable to speak and living in filth, according to the report. — Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 28 June 2026

According to Leyton, Casper O'Brien was bedridden and never went to school. — Nick Lentz, CBS News, 27 June 2026

The outlet claims that after a night out partying at St Tropez’s Le Club 55 in early June 2026, Beatrice spent the next day bedridden and sick. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 25 June 2026

The attack only maims Aegon, who is left bedridden and unable to walk on his own. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 20 June 2026

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)