bats

American

[bats] / bæts /

adjective

Slang.

insane; crazy.

He's gone bats.

bats British

/ bæts /

adjective

informal crazy; very eccentric

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of bats

First recorded in 1915–20; see origin at bat ², -s ³

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

An infection with Bundibugyo virus can occur when someone comes in contact with infected bats or primates, according to the WHO.

From MarketWatch • May 17, 2026

Ebola, believed to have originated in bats, is a deadly viral disease spread through direct contact with bodily fluids.

From Barron's • May 16, 2026

A specialist opener by trade, he usually bats at three for the north-east county.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

Valdez had given up 10 runs, including back-to-back solo home runs in the previous two at bats, when Story took the plate in the top of the fourth inning on Tuesday at Comerica Park.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

As I lay back on my leafy bed, I heard the squeak of bats flying overhead.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023