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 addition to fentanyl, toxicology tests detected alprazolam, commonly known as Xanax; the muscle relaxant methocarbamol; and quetiapine, a medication primarily used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and, in some cases, depression. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2026

Following the killing, Pike was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, her attorneys said. — Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026

Suddenly, she got labeled as having bipolar disorder instead. — Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026

Blacknell also noted that prosecutors failed to call any medical experts to testify whether the crash could be linked to bipolar disorder. — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 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