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

He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 16, but doesn't remember a time without its symptoms. —Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025

Recently Esposito spoke to The Times about living with bipolar disorder and using it as her superpower in comedy. —Nate Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2025

Though Dillingham was never diagnosed, E.A. (short for Elizabeth Anne) believes her mom suffered from bipolar disorder, leading to episodes of paranoia and delusion. —Eliza Thompson, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2025

The doctor considered schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and paranoia diagnoses but ultimately rejected them, according to a report read aloud in court. —Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 2 Apr. 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