insanity

in·san·i·ty

noun \in-ˈsa-nə-tē\

plural in·san·i·ties

Definition of INSANITY

1

: a deranged state of the mind usually occurring as a specific disorder (as schizophrenia)

2

: such unsoundness of mind or lack of understanding as prevents one from having the mental capacity required by law to enter into a particular relationship, status, or transaction or as removes one from criminal or civil responsibility

3

a : extreme folly or unreasonableness

b : something utterly foolish or unreasonable

Examples of INSANITY

1. She was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
2. His friends thought his decision to quit his job was pure insanity.
3. Please, no more violence. It's time to stop this insanity.
4. the insanities of modern life

First Known Use of INSANITY

1590

Related to INSANITY

Synonyms

aberration, dementia, derangement, lunacy, madness, mania, rage [archaic]

Antonyms

mind, saneness, sanity

Related Words

neurosis, psychosis; instability, irrationality, unreasonableness; delirium, frenzy, hysteria; hallucinosis, hypomania, paranoia, schizophrenia; senile dementia; delusion, hallucination; monomania, obsession, phobia; abnormality, dementedness, unsoundness

Near Antonyms

lucidity, rationality, rationalness, reasonability, reasonableness; normality, soundness

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

Rhymes with INSANITY

humanity, inanity, profanity, urbanity

in·san·i·ty

noun \in-ˈsan-ət-ē\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; in·san·i·ties

Medical Definition of INSANITY

1

: a severely disordered state of the mind usually occurring as a specific disorder (as paranoid schizophrenia)

2

: unsoundness of mind or lack of the ability to understand that prevents one from having the mental capacity required by law to enter into a particular relationship, status, or transaction or that releases one from criminal or civil responsibility

insanity

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In criminal law, a disease, defect, or condition of the mind that renders one unable to understand the nature of a criminal act or the fact that it is wrong. Tests of insanity are not intended as medical diagnoses but rather only as determinations of whether a person may be held criminally responsible for his or her actions. The most enduring definition of insanity in Anglo-American law was that proposed by Alexander Cockburn (1843). Many U.S. states and several courts have adopted a standard under which the accused must lack “substantial capacity either to appreciate the criminality of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law.” Some states have abolished the insanity plea, and others allow a finding of “guilty but mentally ill.” See also diminished responsibility.