melancholia

noun mel·an·cho·lia \ ˌme-lən-ˈkō-lē-ə \

|Updated on: 15 Aug 2018

Definition of melancholia

: a mental condition and especially a manic-depressive condition characterized by extreme depression, bodily complaints, and often hallucinations and delusions

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melancholiac

play \-lē-ˌak\ noun

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See melancholia defined for kids

Recent Examples of melancholia from the Web

This familiar premise leads to a twist: Instead of adrenaline rush suspense scenes, this plot languishes in mundane melancholia.

— jason zinoman, New York Times, "Review: In ‘The Night Eats the World,’ Zombie Apocalypse Now, Again," 12 July 2018
In the London home of Vijay Mallya, a self-exiled liquor tycoon, Mr Crabtree finds a golden toilet seat and melancholia.

— The Economist, "The tycoons who are powering India’s rise," 5 July 2018
Although run-down, the beautiful architecture of historic buildings creates a mesmerizing melancholia.

— mosha lundström halbert, Vogue, "The Latina Cool Girl’s Guide to Mexico City," 4 June 2018
Basically, a Lars Kepler thriller stops only to fixate on Joona’s eyes, which distractingly transfix any number of characters who take in this tall hunk of melancholia.

— ken tucker, New York Times, "‘The Silence of the Lambs’ Goes Nordic Noir," 13 Apr. 2018
For two and a half verses, Chance bathes in his melancholia.

— jon pareles, New York Times, "The Playlist: Hear Beyoncé Join ‘Mi Gente,’ Plus 9 More New Songs," 29 Sep. 2017
Elegant melancholia isn’t enough for the National anymore.

— jon pareles, New York Times, "The National Gives Its Sound a Jolt on ‘Sleep Well Beast’," 6 Sep. 2017
En route to his nervous breakdown in 1969, a sublime melancholia crept into his playing.

— philip montoro, Chicago Reader, "Cheer-Accident mastermind Thymme Jones on the upside of Herb Alpert’s nervous breakdown," 22 Aug. 2017
Lana Del Rey is perhaps most well-known as a purveyor of melancholia, singing songs of dysfunctional love and romanticized drug use and nostalgic references to Americana.

— alexandra holterman, Billboard, "Lana Del Rey Brings Her 'Lust for Life' -- Joking With Fans & Skipping Sad Songs -- To Spotify Listening Party," 21 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'melancholia.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Melancholia traces back to Greek melan ("black, dark") and cholē ("bile"). Medical practitioners once adhered to the system of humors-bodily fluids that included black bile, yellow bile, blood, and phlegm. An imbalance of these humors was thought to lead to disorders of the mind and body. One suffering from an excess of black bile (believed to be secreted by the kidneys or spleen) could become sullen and unsociable-liable to anger, irritability, brooding, and depression. Today, doctors no longer ascribe physical and mental disorders to disruptions of the four humors, but the word melancholia is still used in psychiatry (it is identified a "subtype" of clinical depression in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) and as a general term for despondency.

Origin and Etymology of melancholia

New Latin, from Late Latin, melancholy

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1607

in the meaning defined above

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MELANCHOLIA Defined for English Language Learners

melancholia

noun

Definition of melancholia for English Language Learners

: a feeling of sadness and depression

Medical Dictionary

melancholia

noun mel·an·cho·lia \ ˌmel-ən-ˈkō-lē-ə \

medical Definition of melancholia

: a mental condition and especially a manic-depressive condition characterized by extreme depression, psychomotor agitation, and often hallucinations and delusions