bedridden

American  

[bed-rid-n] / ˈbɛdˌrɪd n /

adjective

1. confined to bed because of illness, injury, etc.

---

bedridden British  

/ ˈbɛdˌrɪdən /

adjective

1. confined to bed because of illness, esp for a long or indefinite period

---

Etymology

Origin of bedridden

1300–50; Middle English, variant (by confusion with past participle of ride ) of bedrid

Explanation

Someone who's bedridden is so sick or elderly that they can't get out of bed. Your friend might have such a bad case of the flu that she's bedridden for several days and can't go to work or school. Most people who are bedridden are terribly ill and confined to their bed — or a hospital bed — until they recover. Very old people might also be bedridden because of weakness or pain. The word comes from the Old English bæddrædæn, "bedridden man," from the roots bedd, "bed," and rida, "rider."

Example Sentences

Quadriplegic and bedridden in a prefabricated home, 36-year-old Li Xia can only move one finger and one toe -- yet he runs a high-tech farm in southwestern China using sensors, cameras and a computer.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

This insight opens the possibility of developing medications that replicate the benefits of exercise, offering new hope for older adults, bedridden patients, and individuals with chronic illnesses who face a higher risk of fractures.

From Science Daily • Jan. 27, 2026

The younger brother said his sister had been bedridden for the last two years and as her health deteriorated she appeared to have stopped breathing on Saturday, according to the temple's manager.

From BBC • Nov. 25, 2025

“God’s got my back,” he sang, still bedridden.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 9, 2025

Dad was still bedridden when Shawn and Emily announced their engagement.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

Related Words

• ill
• incapacitated
• infirm
• invalid