bedfellow: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal; Literary; Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “bedfellow” mean?
A person with whom one shares a bed.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person with whom one shares a bed; (chiefly figurative) a person or group associated with another, often in an alliance of convenience.
Used primarily in a metaphorical sense to describe an unlikely, temporary, or convenient ally, partner, or associate. The term carries the implication that the association is close and, often, uncomfortable or strange.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both use the term primarily in its figurative sense.
Connotations
In both varieties, the term carries a connotation of opportunism, strangeness, or an alliance of opposites (e.g., 'Politics makes for strange bedfellows').
Frequency
Slightly more common in political/journalistic writing in the UK, but used identically in both varieties. It is a low-frequency word in everyday speech.
Grammar
How to Use “bedfellow” in a Sentence
N1 be/come (a/an) [ADJ] bedfellow with N2N1 makes for strange bedfellowsN1 and N2 are strange bedfellowsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bedfellow” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The two rival parties found themselves bedfellowed by the urgent need for electoral reform.
American English
- The crisis bedfellowed corporations and activists who were normally at odds.
adjective
British English
- (Extremely rare, non-standard) Their bedfellow relationship was purely transactional.
American English
- (Extremely rare, non-standard) The article discussed the bedfellow dynamics of the coalition.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
'In the merger, our company found itself in bed with some unlikely bedfellows from the tech sector.'
Academic
'In this analysis, neoliberal economics and authoritarian governance are shown to be close ideological bedfellows.'
Everyday
'I never thought we'd be working together—talk about strange bedfellows!'
Technical
Rarely used in technical contexts outside of political science or sociology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bedfellow”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bedfellow”
- Using it literally in modern contexts (e.g., 'My bedfellow snores.' is archaic).
- Confusing it with 'roommate' or 'flatmate'.
- Misspelling as 'bedfellow' (correct: 'bedfellow').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Historically, yes, but in modern English it is almost exclusively used in a figurative sense. The literal use sounds archaic or intentionally humorous.
Not inherently negative, but it often carries a tone of skepticism, irony, or surprise about an alliance. It highlights the unusual or opportunistic nature of the partnership.
By far the most common is 'strange bedfellows', often in the proverb 'Politics makes strange bedfellows.'
'Bedfellow' is gender-neutral. While 'bedmate' exists, it is more literal, often with romantic or sexual connotations, and is not used in the same figurative, political sense as 'bedfellow'.
A person with whom one shares a bed.
Bedfellow is usually formal; literary; journalistic in register.
Bedfellow: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɛdˌfɛləʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɛdˌfɛloʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Politics makes strange bedfellows.”
- “to be strange/odd bedfellows”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of two very different people forced to share a BED; they are FELLOW occupants, but it's a strange arrangement. This captures the core idea of an unlikely alliance.
Conceptual Metaphor
AN ALLIANCE/ASSOCIATION IS SHARING A BED.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'bedfellow' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?