bedridden

American  

[bed-rid-n] / ˈbɛdˌrɪd n /

adjective

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

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bedridden British  

/ ˈbɛdˌrɪdən /

adjective

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

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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

See Examples For:

bedridden

Carmen Guedez, 69, was in the same room as her bedridden sister when she felt the jolt.

From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026

Janet Vigo, a nail-salon technician, prepared four boxes of adult diapers and a rechargeable fan for her 84-year-old bedridden grandmother, who recently broke her hip.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

I’ve gone from broadcasting a daily radio show, writing a weekly column, flying to deliver at least one lecture a week, and taking at least one listener cruise a year to a bedridden life.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 26, 2026

"We need water in the apartments; we need water when people are bedridden in nappies. Without water, we cannot function," he told the BBC.

From BBC ● Feb. 3, 2026

I spent an entire week bedridden, unable to sit up or sleep.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

Related Words

• ill
• incapacitated
• infirm
• invalid