Bedridden describes someone who is so illnot healthy; suffering from sickness, weak, or injuredhurt physically, especially in an accident or similar event that they have to stay in bed. It is a formal or somewhat old-fashioned word, but it is still clear and useful in medicalrelating to doctors, hospitals, or treating illness contexts.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈbɛdˌrɪdən/
Easy pronunciation: BED-rih-dən (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress on the first syllable.
Adjective meaning confined to bed because of illness or injury.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Bedridden Meaning
unable to get out of bed because of being sick or injured
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: confined to bed because of illness or injury
Example: After the surgery, he was bedridden for nearly two weeks.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- bedfast — A direct synonym for being confined to bed.
- bedrid — An older synonym with the same meaning.
- sick-abed — An older, less common synonym meaning sick and staying in bed.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Bedridden Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- bedfast
- bedrid
- sick-abed
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Don't confuse bedridden with simply tired or resting in bed for a short time.
- It usually means the person cannot leave bed because of illness or injury, not just that they prefer to stay there.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does bedridden mean?
Bedridden means unable to get out of bed because of illness or injury.
What part of speech is bedridden?
Bedridden is an adjective.
What are common synonyms for bedridden?
Common synonyms include bedfast, bedrid, and sick-abed.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
