mentally ill

American  

adjective

1. having a mental illness.

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noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. Usually the mentally ill mentally ill persons collectively.

Etymology

Origin of mentally ill

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Wiseman caused instant controversy with his first film, "Titicut Follies," which remains one of his most famous documentaries, shot in 1967 and capturing the bleak reality of an asylum for the mentally ill, Bridgewater.

From Barron's • Feb. 16, 2026

In 1811, Saxony’s king converted it into a model asylum for the mentally ill, and for many years it was.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 24, 2025

Conscientious employees are often stereotyped as disgruntled, mentally ill or troublemakers who are out for fame, profit or revenge.

From Salon • Jul. 17, 2025

This is the chicken-and-egg question: Did people become homeless because they were mentally ill, or did they become mentally ill because of the “harsh existence” of being homeless?

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 10, 2025

But the stepfather, a truck driver, was frequently on the road, and her mother, who was mentally ill, often needed the young Della to care for her.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times