bedpan

noun

bed·​pan ˈbed-ˌpan How to pronounce bedpan (audio)
: a shallow vessel used by a bedridden person for urination or defecation

Examples of bedpan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some rehearse using a bedpan — placing it in the right spot, cleaning out the imaginary contents. Elissa Nadworny, NPR, 30 June 2026 Photos showed Fike's bed and extreme filth surrounding it, including a bedpan with her bath water that was allegedly three weeks old. Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 7 May 2026 Fracture pans Fracture bedpans, or fracture pans, are smaller than traditional bedpans and have one flat end. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 28 Jan. 2026 Bariatric bedpans, meanwhile, can support around 1,200 pounds. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bedpan

Word History

First Known Use

1654, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bedpan was in 1654

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Cite this Entry

“Bedpan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bedpan. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

bedpan

noun
bed·​pan ˈbed-ˌpan How to pronounce bedpan (audio)
: a shallow pan for use as a toilet by a person forced to stay in bed

Medical Definition

bedpan

noun
bed·​pan ˈbed-ˌpan How to pronounce bedpan (audio)
: a shallow vessel used by a bedridden person for urination or defecation
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