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

Linton had struggled with bipolar disorder for years before the crash and was twice hospitalized due to issues related to her mental illness. — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

The group was founded by Jan and David Baszucki, whose son Matt was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in college. — Kelly Rogers Victor, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026

Back in December, the actor got candid about his health during an appearance on Maurice Benard’s State of Mind podcast, sharing that he’d been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had required hospitalization for treatment. — Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026

Then there was a very public manic episode in 1996, which was related to bipolar disorder. — Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 30 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