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

And while Louis was bedridden and depressed, Armand kept Daniel in the apartment, torturing him for days and ultimately almost killing him until Louis stopped Armand and saved Daniel's life. —Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 10 June 2024

The dead-eyed, bedridden Sam is a far cry from the easygoing young woman who interviews for an au pair job with a Toronto police officer, Cameron (Jason Jones), to care for his 12-year-old daughter Brooke while her mother is hospitalized with a terminal illness. —Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2024

The patient had multiple underlying medical conditions and was bedridden for three weeks for other reasons before his acute symptoms began, per the WHO. —Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 June 2024

Before reporting shortness of breath, diarrhea, and nausea, the man had been bedridden for three weeks. —Alice Park, TIME, 6 June 2024

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

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)