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

The autopsy also found the presence of prescription antidepressant and antihistamine medications, adding that Lunas Campos had a history of bipolar disorder and anxiety. —CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026

Jacquez’s story also bears similarities to that of 35-year-old Alex Taylor, a man with bipolar disorder and related schizoaffective disorder who, as The New York Times first reported, was shot to death by police after suffering an acute crisis after intensive ChatGPT use. —Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 21 Jan. 2026

Her search for guidance led to a mental breakdown, a stay in a psychiatric facility and a bipolar disorder diagnosis. —Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026

Harbour, who has said he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 25, recently opened up about his experience with therapy. —Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 15 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