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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 42 following the outbursts. —Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 1 Nov. 2024 Throughout her career, the singer and songwriter has candidly discussed her experience having endometriosis and living with bipolar disorder, among other physical and mental health diagnoses. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2024 Gomez shared her bipolar disorder diagnosis in 2020 on Instagram, and chronicled her experience more intimately in the 2022 documentary Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me. —Alexa Mikhail, Fortune Well, 26 Oct. 2024 There is also limited evidence that creatine causes other negative side effects, with the exception of people who have a pre-existing medical condition like bipolar disorder, kidney disease, or Parkinson's. —Sherri Gordon, Health, 26 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bipolar disorder 

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bipolar disorder was in 1972

Dictionary Entries Near bipolar disorder

bipolar

bipolar disorder

bipolar illness

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Bipolar disorder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bipolar%20disorder. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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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

More from Merriam-Webster on bipolar disorder

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bipolar disorder

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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