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

West eventually apologized in a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal in January, blaming his comments on bipolar disorder and a brain injury. — Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

The argument against inclusion is that there are not enough consistent studies to determine whether postpartum psychosis is part of an underlying mental health issue such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. — Deborah Becker, NPR, 16 Aug. 2026

Clancy looked up suicide methods, bipolar disorder and insomnia at the end of December 2022 and, in January, went in search of information on postpartum depression. — Michael Casey, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026

Women with bipolar disorder are also much more likely to develop it. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 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