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

In a clip taken by a guest, Anwar — who recently wrote an essay about her struggle with bipolar disorder — listened and didn’t judge. —Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025

During one such episode, Klinkamon sought help for her daughter, who was eventually diagnosed with schizoaffective bipolar disorder. —Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2025

The project’s narrative touchstone, however, is Ye’s commitment to living without medication for the bipolar disorder he’s previously disclosed. —Matt Donnelly, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025

Dorn told police that he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, anxiety and depression, but had not taken his medications for about four months, court documents said. —Wren Smetana, AZCentral.com, 20 Sep. 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