Bedfellow/ˈbedfeləʊ/ Definition 1 of 2Pro Tip 1/3Literal Sharing It means physically sharing a bed for sleep or rest, not necessarily sexual. During our camping trip, we were bedfellows in the tent. Pro Tip 2/3Temporariness Indicates a temporary situation which is not permanent, like during a sleepover. At the hostel, travelers are often short-term bedfellows. Pro Tip 3/3Neutral Tone The word can be used without emotional undertones, just describing the situation. My toddler became my bedfellow when she had a nightmare.