bedridden
adjective C2
Plain meaning
unable to leave bed because of illness or weakness
Exam-register meaning
In formal or high-level texts, it is used to describe unable to leave bed because of illness or weakness, often with a precise or specialised tone.
In context
naturalHis response sounded bedridden, so the conversation became difficult.
examThe passage presents a bedridden assessment of the policy’s wider consequences.
Common collocations
a bedridden responsebedridden behavioura bedridden situation
Watch out
Do not use “very bedridden” automatically; some advanced adjectives already carry a strong meaning or need a more natural intensifier.
Word family
bedriddenness (noun, where natural)bedriddenly (adverb, where natural)