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

Kirk Heilbrun, a forensic psychologist who evaluated Clancy in April, concluded his testimony Tuesday, testifying that Clancy was suffering from a form of bipolar disorder, but could still appreciate that killing her children was wrong. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

The high-profile attorney said Moore suffered from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. — Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026

Kehlani revealed in an April 2025 social media post that she’d been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and BPD (borderline personality disorder). — Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026

Instead, her attorney Kevin Reddington has argued that Clancy was suffering from postpartum psychosis at the time, a diagnosis for Clancy, along with bipolar disorder, that Zeizel described on the stand. — Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 19 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