featherbedding

UK: /ˈfɛðəˌbɛdɪŋ/ US: (feᵺ′ər bed′ing)

From the verb feather bed: (⇒ conjugate)

featherbedding is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

feath•er•bed•ding  (feᵺ′ər bed′ing), n. 

1. Business the practice of requiring an employer to hire unnecessary employees, to assign unnecessary work, or to limit production according to a union rule or safety statute:
   Featherbedding forced the railroads to employ firemen on diesel locomotives.

• feather + bedding 1920–25

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

featherbedding / ˈfɛðəˌbɛdɪŋ/ noun

1. the practice of limiting production, duplicating work, or overmanning, esp in accordance with a union contract, in order to prevent redundancies or create jobs

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

feath′er bed′, 

1. a mattress or a bed cover, as a quilt, stuffed with soft feathers.

• Middle English, Old English bef. 1000

feath•er•bed  (feᵺ′ər bed′), v.t., v.i., -bed•ded, -bed•ding. 

1. Business to subject to or engage in featherbedding.

• back formation from featherbedding 1945–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

feather bed noun

1. a mattress filled with feathers or down

verb featherbed ( -beds, -bedding, -bedded)

1. (transitive) to pamper; spoil