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

The not-knowing Deloach said her sister went to jail with prescriptions for bipolar disorder, acid reflux, high blood pressure and stomach ulcers. —Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026

Irrespective of symptoms, such interventions can support people diagnosed with psychiatric disabilities like schizophrenia, major depression and bipolar disorder. —Adrienne Lapidos, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2026

Using marijuana also did not improve other mental health conditions such as anorexia nervosa; bipolar disorder; obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD; or psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, Wilson said. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026

If someone is diagnosed with a debilitating form of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, for example, private insurance often can’t place them in a bed that would provide them with needed — indeed, potentially life-saving — full-time care. —Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 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