bedlam

[ bed-luhm ]

noun

1. a scene or state of wild uproar and confusion.

   Synonyms: pandemonium, commotion, turmoil, clamor, chaos, tumult, disorder

2. Archaic. an insane asylum or madhouse.

bedlam

/ ˈbɛdləm /

noun

1. a noisy confused place or situation; state of uproar

   his speech caused bedlam

2. archaic.
   a lunatic asylum; madhouse

Word History and Origins

Origin of bedlam¹

A popular name for the Hospital of St. Mary of Bethlehem in London, which served as a lunatic asylum from circa 1400; compare Middle English Bedleem, Bethleem, Old English Betleem Bethlehem

Word History and Origins

Origin of bedlam¹

C13 bedlem , bethlem , after the Hospital of St Mary of Bethlehem in London

Example Sentences

Back to Bedlam originally spent 10 weeks at number one and remains one of the UK's best-selling albums of all time.

From BBC

A new staging presented by Bedlam makes a valiant effort to adapt Stoppard’s cerebral probes into chaos theory, Newtonian law, thermodynamics and metaphysics for a 2023 audience, but the result is a muddled one.

From New York Times

“And it’s good for the Oklahoma State people to finish Bedlam with a win. Period.”

From Seattle Times

In the final Bedlam game in the Big 12 — and for the foreseeable future — Oklahoma State gave No. 10 Oklahoma an unfriendly parting gift.

From Seattle Times

Oklahoma visits Oklahoma State next Saturday in the last edition of Bedlam for the foreseeable future.

From Seattle Times