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

Lean also refuted claims that bipolar disorder stifles creativity. —Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 6 Nov. 2025

Suffering from the pain of losing his dad so quickly and tragically, and suffering as his mental health declined just as rapidly — he would later be diagnosed with bipolar disorder. —Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2025

The rapper, alongside his wife, Keyshia Ka’oir, was interviewed by the hosts of The Breakfast Club and discussed being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. —Essence, 23 Oct. 2025

Lovato was diagnosed with bipolar disorder while receiving inpatient treatment for emotional and physical issues in 2010. —Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025

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