bedlam

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations'bedlam', 'Bedlam': /ˈbɛdləm/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈbɛdləm/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(bed′ləm)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
bed•lam /ˈbɛdləm/USA pronunciation   n. [uncountable]
  1. a place or condition of wild noise and confusion:The classroom was total bedlam when I walked in.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
bed•lam  (bed′ləm),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. a scene or state of wild uproar and confusion.
  2. [Archaic.]an insane asylum or madhouse.
  • compare Middle English Bedleem, Bethleem, Old English Betleem Bethlehem a popular name for the Hospital of St. Mary of Bethlehem in London, which served as a lunatic asylum from ca. 1400
    1. disorder, tumult, chaos, clamor, turmoil, commotion, pandemonium.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
bedlam /ˈbɛdləm/ n
  1. a noisy confused place or situation; state of uproar
  2. archaic an institution for the care of mentally ill people
Etymology: 13th Century bedlem, bethlem, after the Hospital of St Mary of Bethlehem in London
'bedlam' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Babel - bedlamer - bedlamite - madhouse - maelstrom - pandemonium - Tom o'Bedlam

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "bedlam" in the title:


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