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

Valentine’s mother previously told the News her daughter has bipolar disorder and stopped taking her medication before the assault. —Barry Williams, New York Daily News, 5 June 2026

She had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had previously attempted suicide. —Topher Sanders, ProPublica, 2 June 2026

Casillo delves into Monroe’s bipolar disorder and other intimate moments in this comprehensive biography that features dozens of new interviews. —Pat Saperstein, Variety, 1 June 2026

The court also rejected Husband’s contention that an employer’s awareness of conduct associated with bipolar disorder amounts to awareness of the disability itself. —Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 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