bedfellow

noun

bed·​fel·​low ˈbed-ˌfe-(ˌ)lō 

1

: one who shares a bed with another

2

: a person or thing closely associated with another : ally

political bedfellows

—often used in the phrase strange bedfellows to describe an unlikely alliance of people or things

Politics indeed makes strange bedfellows and on the issue of local regulation of pesticides, environmental and states' rights advocates have joined forces.

—Elena S. Rutrick

Polities and good architecture are strange bedfellows, but in Barcelona the marriage has worked.

—Cathleen McGuigan

Synonyms

• abettor
• abetter
• ally
• backer
• confederate
• fellow traveler
• supporter
• sympathizer

Examples of bedfellow in a Sentence

a child-welfare cause that has made bedfellows of activists who are normally on opposite ends of the political spectrum

Recent Examples on the Web

Shadowrun’s dark future fantasy and Munchkin’s giddy competition make surprisingly comfy bedfellows. —Rob Wieland, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025

The push for greater affordability has also made for strange bedfellows as conservatives in the state legislature — which is dominated by the far right — embrace some of Austin’s moves with similar policies at the state level. —Bloomberg, Orange County Register, 27 Feb. 2025

And this isn’t the only area where strange bedfellows make for policy consensus. —Maria Flynn, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025

These coalition talks can take months, and getting the wrong bedfellows can be costly. —Alexander Smith, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bedfellow

• marshmallow
• morello
• othello
• schoolfellow
• cello
• fellow
• jello
• mellow
• melo
• velo
• portobello
• violoncello

Kids Definition

bedfellow

noun

bed·​fel·​low ˈbed-ˌfel-ō 

: one who shares a bed with another