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

Genetic screening for conditions like bipolar disorder and kidney disease reveals inherited risks, but no test reliably predicts genetic age. —Michal Ruprecht, CNN Money, 29 Jan. 2026

Virginia Woolf, played by Nicole Kidman (who won an Oscar for her performance), is working on the novel while struggling with what is now known as bipolar disorder. —Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 29 Jan. 2026

Neuropathologist Bennet Omalu, speaking generally about the progression of neurological issues and not specifically about Ye, says that a frontal lobe injury can lead to bipolar disorder. —Anna Peele, Vanity Fair, 27 Jan. 2026

His split from Kardashian came years after his bipolar disorder diagnosis, in 2021. —Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Jan. 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