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

Toles, a promising outfielder who played parts of three seasons with the team from 2016 to 2018, did not report to spring training in 2019 and was quietly placed on the restricted list before it was eventually revealed that Toles had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. —Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026

Substance abuse disorders and underlying mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety are noted suicide risk factors, along with a family history of suicide. —Sam Manzella, Flow Space, 5 Mar. 2026

Gomez covered everything from her bipolar disorder diagnosis to her friendship with Taylor Swift, dreams of a big family and the viral moment involving Blanco’s bare feet. —Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026

Selena Gomez revealed in 2020 that she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. —Roberta Mercuri, Vanity Fair, 5 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