bedwetter: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, often derogatory.
Quick answer
What does “bedwetter” mean?
A person, typically a child, who urinates involuntarily while asleep.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person, typically a child, who urinates involuntarily while asleep.
A slang or pejorative term for someone perceived as weak, overly emotional, indecisive, or lacking in courage. It can also refer to someone overly preoccupied with a political or social issue in a way others find timid or alarmist.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The literal meaning is equally understood. The figurative, pejorative usage is common in both political and social discourse, but is perhaps more prevalent in American political rhetoric.
Connotations
Both varieties carry strong negative connotations when used figuratively. In the literal sense, it is a neutral, albeit informal, medical/social term.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in informal/colloquial American English, especially in political contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “bedwetter” in a Sentence
[Adj.] bedwetter[N.] is a bedwetter (about [something])Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bedwetter” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The GP advised on how to manage a child who bedwets.
- He's bedwetting again, the poor lad.
American English
- The specialist helps families whose children bedwet.
- He's still bedwetting at age seven.
adjective
British English
- (Not standard; 'bedwetting' is used adjectivally) He had a bedwetting incident.
- That's a bedwetting attitude to have.
American English
- (Not standard; 'bedwetting' is used adjectivally) They offer bedwetting alarms.
- The senator dismissed the criticism as bedwetting panic.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used very informally to dismiss a colleague's overly cautious approach.
Academic
Virtually never used, except in sociological studies of language.
Everyday
Used literally among parents/doctors. Used figuratively in heated arguments or teasing among friends/family.
Technical
The condition is 'nocturnal enuresis'; the person is an 'enuretic'.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bedwetter”
- Confusing it with 'bedridden' (confined to bed).
- Using it in formal writing.
- Applying it literally to adults without a known medical context, which can be seen as highly offensive.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, especially when used figuratively. It is a strong insult implying childishness and weakness. The literal use, while informal, can be sensitive.
A person with nocturnal enuresis; they are described as an 'enuretic'.
Literally, only if they have a medical condition, and it is an insensitive way to say it. Figuratively, it is almost exclusively used for adults as an insult.
A 'coward' focuses on a lack of bravery in the face of danger. A 'bedwetter' implies a more general, pathetic weakness, often involving excessive worry, emotional frailty, and a lack of self-control.
A person, typically a child, who urinates involuntarily while asleep.
Bedwetter is usually informal, often derogatory. in register.
Bedwetter: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbedˌwɛtə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɛdˌwɛtər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A bunch of bedwetters”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a child who wets the bed being scared of the dark. The metaphor links fear/anxiety with a loss of control, which is then projected onto adults.
Conceptual Metaphor
MORAL OR EMOTIONAL WEAKNESS IS PHYSICAL INFIRMITY / LACK OF CONTROL IS CHILDISHNESS.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'bedwetter' be considered MOST inappropriate?