mental

1 of 2

adjective (1)

men·​tal ˈmen-tᵊl 

1

a

: of or relating to the mind

specifically : of or relating to the total emotional and intellectual response of an individual to external reality

mental health

b

: of or relating to intellectual as contrasted with emotional activity

mental acuity

c

: of, relating to, or being intellectual as contrasted with overt physical activity

made quick mental calculations

d

: occurring or experienced in the mind : inner

mental anguish

a mental breakdown

e

: relating to the mind, its activity, or its products as an object of study : ideological

mental science

f

: relating to spirit or idea as opposed to matter

… the distinction between physical things and mental ideas.

—John W. Yolton

2

a(1)

often offensive : of, relating to, or affected by a psychiatric disorder

a mental patient

(2)

sometimes offensive : mentally unsound : mad, crazy

… was going a bit mental from old age …

—Nevil Shute

—not used technically

b

sometimes offensive : intended for the care or treatment of persons affected by psychiatric disorders

mental hospitals

3

: of or relating to telepathic or mind-reading powers

mental telepathy

mental

2 of 2

adjective (2)

: of or relating to the chin : genial

Synonyms of mental

Adjective (1)

• internal
• inner
• psychological
• interior

Examples of mental in a Sentence

Adjective (1)

a funny mental image made him laugh out loud

humane treatment of mental patients

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Women’s mental well-being can be at risk due to a variety of factors, including unequal domestic responsibilities and physiological changes during the postpartum period, perimenopause and menopause. — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026

Court proceedings for the case were postponed in April, when Superior Court Judge Jason Disbrow ordered that Edge be transferred to a state psychiatric facility after authorities said the veteran lacked the mental capacity to proceed to trial. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 7 Oct. 2026

The Yanks committed three errors in the first four batters of the bottom of the first inning in Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Monday night, and one of them was the result of an additional mental error that's not in the box score. — Ryan Morik Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026

So while productivity may rise, so does the amount of mental processing required from strong employees. — Arthur Azizov, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

Middle English, from Late Latin mentalis, from Latin ment-, mens mind — more at mind

Adjective (2)

Latin mentum "chin" + -al entry 1 — more at mouth entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective (2)

circa 1727, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing mental

• make a mental note
• mental age
• mental case
• mental deficiency
• mental disease
• mental disorder
• mental faculties
• mental health
• mental health day
• mental illness

Rhymes for mental

• dental
• ental
• gentle
• lentil
• rental
• accidental
• compartmental
• continental
• detrimental
• elemental
• fundamental
• governmental

Kids Definition

mental

adjective

men·​tal

ˈment-ᵊl

1

a

: of or relating to the mind

mental powers

mental health

b

: carried on in the mind

mental arithmetic

c

: occurring or experienced in the mind

mental anguish

a mental breakdown

2

sometimes offensive : intended for the care of persons affected by mental illnesses

mental hospitals

mentally

-ᵊl-ē

adverb

Medical Definition

mental

1 of 2 adjective

men·​tal ˈment-ᵊl 

1

a

: of or relating to the mind

specifically : of or relating to the total emotional and intellectual response of an individual to external reality

b

: of or relating to intellectual as contrasted with emotional activity

2

a

often offensive : of, relating to, or affected by a psychiatric disorder

a mental patient

b

sometimes offensive : intended for the care or treatment of persons affected by psychiatric disorders

mental hospitals

mentally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

mental

2 of 2 adjective

: of or relating to the chin : genial