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

She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder after the killing. — Kim Chandler, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

An employee at one public hospital said there are shortages of key specialized psychiatric medicines to treat bipolar disorders and acute psychosis, and more common medications for anxiety and panic disorders. — ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026

In addition to fentanyl, toxicology tests detected alprazolam, commonly known as Xanax; the muscle relaxant methocarbamol; and quetiapine, a medication primarily used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and, in some cases, depression. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026

Health inspectors claim that the actions of Alfonso’s caregivers also led to the death of Resident 7, who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a life-threatening lung condition, as well as bipolar disorder. — Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 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