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

According to prosecutors, Works had lived with Graves since Thanksgiving of 2025, had been homeless on and off for the last decade, and is medicated for bipolar disorder and anxiety. —Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026

Apologizing for his past antisemitic behavior, Ye, also got candid about his battle with bipolar disorder. —Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Apr. 2026

Judge Alan Schneider said the court’s decision for potential dismissal stemmed from the artist’s previous diagnosis of bipolar disorder. —Alex Suskind, Pitchfork, 6 Apr. 2026

Ye has attributed his outbursts to manic episodes due to bipolar disorder. —Neda Ulaby, NPR, 5 Apr. 2026

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