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

That, however, is often how bipolar disorder works. —Alyssa Goldberg, USA TODAY, 2 Oct. 2024

The notes indicated that Sneed told the prosecutor he was given lithium after seeing a jailhouse psychiatrist and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, according to court papers. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 9 Oct. 2024

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, 9 Oct. 2024

Gomez, who’s publicly discussed her own struggles with bipolar disorder, launched it as a way to promote mental health in the beauty industry. —Ashton Jackson, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

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