bipolar disorder

noun

: any of several psychological disorders of mood characterized usually by alternating episodes of depression and mania

called also bipolar illness, manic depression

Examples of bipolar disorder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It's revealed that Bernadette has lived with bipolar disorder for years, and is prone to similarly explosive episodes, including one that nearly took Stabler's life as a child. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 26 Feb. 2025

Sneed -- who received a life sentence in exchange for testifying against Glossip -- had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and been taking psychiatric medication, but denied it during trial -- facts uncorrected by prosecutors who knew the truth. —Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 25 Feb. 2025

Lawyers for Glossip and Drummond argued the notes showed that Sneed told prosecutors he was given lithium after seeing a jailhouse psychiatrist and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2025

Amid her struggles, Lam had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had been prescribed several medications to help treat her condition. —Alex Gurley, People.com, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bipolar disorder

• boarder
• border
• corder
• order
• warder
• camcorder
• recorder
• reorder
• suborder
• transborder

Kids Definition

bipolar disorder

noun

: any of several psychological disorders of mood characterized by alternating episodes of depression and mania

Medical Definition

bipolar disorder

noun

: any of several mood disorders characterized usually by alternating episodes of depression and mania

Note: The mania experienced in bipolar disorder may be of the euphoric or irritable type or both.

called also bipolar affective disorder, bipolar illness, manic depression, manic-depressive illness

compare major depressive disorder