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

In contrast to many other fields, psychiatry still diagnoses complex conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and autism solely through clusters of behavioral symptoms observed in clinical settings. —Eric J. Nestler, STAT, 28 Apr. 2026

Today, doctors consider schizophrenia and bipolar disorder as the two chief categories of severe mental illness; the first ravages the mind, the second the emotions. —Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026

An independent study done in 2018, however found the denial rate for those with a primary diagnosis of an affective or mood disorder, such as bipolar disorder and depression was 76%, or 14 percentage points higher than those with physical ailments. —Jeffrey Freedman, Sun Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026

Earlier this month, the star was granted entry into a mental health diversion program, and a judge said that his arrest stemmed from his bipolar disorder diagnosis. —Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 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