bipolar disorder

American  

noun

Psychiatry.

bipolar disorders plural

1. an affective disorder characterized by periods of mania alternating with periods of depression, usually interspersed with relatively long intervals of normal mood.

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bipolar disorder British  

noun

1. a mental health problem characterized by an alternation between extreme euphoria and deep depression

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bipolar disorder Scientific  

1. Any of several mood disorders usually characterized by periods of depression that alternate with mania.

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bipolar disorder Cultural  

1. Also known as manic-depressive illness. This psychiatric disorder is marked by periods of euphoric (manic) highs often followed by periods of depression.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• bipolar disorders
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bipolar disorder

A third trial involving people with bipolar disorder also showed no improvement.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 30, 2026

The Grammy Award-winner was eligible because of a subsequent diagnosis of bipolar disorder, with the judge noting Hill's behaviour at the time of his arrest had been "aberrant from his normal conduct".

From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026

People with a bipolar disorder diagnosis more commonly experience depressive episodes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026

Army from 1989 to 1993 and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after his discharge, according to a letter filed as part of his diversion application last year.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2026

Fourteen years after the incident with the Weavers, I would sit in a university classroom and listen to a professor of psychology describe something called bipolar disorder.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover