hebephrenia

[ hee-buh-free-nee-uh ]

/ ˌhi bəˈfri ni ə /

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noun Psychiatry.

a type of schizophrenia characterized by emotionless, incongruous, or silly behavior, intellectual deterioration, and hallucinations, frequently beginning insidiously during adolescence.

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Origin of hebephrenia

1880–85; <Greek hēbē- (see hebetic) + -phrenia

OTHER WORDS FROM hebephrenia

he·be·phren·ic

[hee-buh-fren-ik], /ˌhi bəˈfrɛn ɪk/, adjective

Words nearby hebephrenia

hebdomadal, Hebdomadal Council, hebdomadary, hebe, Hebei, hebephrenia, Heber, Hébert, hebetate, hebetic, hebetude

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use hebephrenia in a sentence

Hebephrenia is always a disease of adolescence and never occurs during adult life.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 5|Various
The subjects of hebephrenia are peculiarly liable to tubercular infection and many die of phthisis.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 5|Various
Let us recall also the mental troubles, the psychoses designated by the name hebephrenia.
Essay on the Creative Imagination|Th. Ribot

British Dictionary definitions for hebephrenia

hebephrenia

/ (ˌhiːbɪˈfriːnɪə) /

noun

a form of pubertal schizophrenia, characterized by hallucinations, delusions, foolish behaviour, and senseless laughter

Derived forms of hebephrenia

hebephrenic (ˌhiːbɪˈfrɛnɪk), adjective

Word Origin for hebephrenia

C20: New Latin, from Greek hēbē youth + -phrenia mental disorder, from phrēn mind

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