mental

1 of 2

adjective (1)

men·​tal ˈmen-tᵊl How to pronounce mental (audio)
1
a
: of or relating to the mind
specifically : of or relating to the total emotional and intellectual response of an individual to external reality
mental health
b
: of or relating to intellectual as contrasted with emotional activity
mental acuity
c
: of, relating to, or being intellectual as contrasted with overt physical activity
made quick mental calculations
d
: occurring or experienced in the mind : inner
mental anguish
a mental breakdown
e
: relating to the mind, its activity, or its products as an object of study : ideological
mental science
f
: relating to spirit or idea as opposed to matter
… the distinction between physical things and mental ideasJohn W. Yolton
2
a(1)
often offensive : of, relating to, or affected by a psychiatric disorder
a mental patient
(2)
sometimes offensive : mentally unsound : mad, crazy
… was going a bit mental from old age …Nevil Shute
not used technically
b
sometimes offensive : intended for the care or treatment of persons affected by psychiatric disorders
mental hospitals
3
: of or relating to telepathic or mind-reading powers
mental telepathy

mental

2 of 2

adjective (2)

: of or relating to the chin : genial

Examples of mental in a Sentence

Adjective (1) a funny mental image made him laugh out loud humane treatment of mental patients
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
That charge was still pending when Brown boarded the train, and a judge had ordered Brown’s mental capacity be evaluated less than a month before. Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2025 In the background, mental calendars are ticking away, hoping there’s enough runway to get a deal before everyone’s attention shifts to Thanksgiving, holidays, and winter vacation. John Walkup, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025 Nicholas is especially attuned to how the distortion of visual perception can trigger a cascade of runaway mental and physical responses. Scott Stossel, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2025 The mental strain became undeniable. Zach Sweet, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mental

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

Middle English, from Late Latin mentalis, from Latin ment-, mens mind — more at mind

Adjective (2)

Latin mentum "chin" + -al entry 1 — more at mouth entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective (2)

circa 1727, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mental was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mental. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

mental

adjective
men·​tal
ˈment-ᵊl
1
a
: of or relating to the mind
mental powers
mental health
b
: carried on in the mind
mental arithmetic
c
: occurring or experienced in the mind
mental anguish
a mental breakdown
2
sometimes offensive : intended for the care of persons affected by mental illnesses
mental hospitals
mentally
-ᵊl-ē
adverb

Medical Definition

mental

1 of 2 adjective
men·​tal ˈment-ᵊl How to pronounce mental (audio)
1
a
: of or relating to the mind
specifically : of or relating to the total emotional and intellectual response of an individual to external reality
b
: of or relating to intellectual as contrasted with emotional activity
2
a
often offensive : of, relating to, or affected by a psychiatric disorder
a mental patient
b
sometimes offensive : intended for the care or treatment of persons affected by psychiatric disorders
mental hospitals
mentally adverb

mental

2 of 2 adjective
: of or relating to the chin : genial

More from Merriam-Webster on mental

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