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

Complicating the humor is the reality that at the center of this fiasco lies Olmo’s bedridden father, Nestor (Gustavo Sánchez Parra), disabled by illness (multiple sclerosis, it’s revealed late in the movie). —Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Feb. 2025

Parra is excellent in his bedridden role as a man who can no longer help himself, but somewhere deep inside, still can love his family. —Pete Hammond, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2025

Julia is married to an older, upstanding, deeply Catholic and closeted man named Michael, who is bedridden with rheumatism. —Mary Marge Locker, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2025

Though the series went on to cast a new Darrin Stephens, York remained bedridden for months and struggled with an addiction to painkillers, per a recent documentary about the series. —Justine Fisher, People.com, 22 Jan. 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)