lunatic

[loo-nuh-tik]

noun

1. (no longer in technical use; now considered offensive) an insane person.

2. a person whose actions and manner are marked by extreme eccentricity or recklessness.

3. a person legally declared to be of unsound mind and who therefore is not held capable or responsible before the law: a former legal term.

adjective

1. (no longer in technical use; now considered offensive) insane.

2. characteristic or suggestive of lunacy; wildly or recklessly foolish.

3. Older Use.,  designated for or used by the insane.

   a lunatic asylum.

4. gaily or lightheartedly mad, frivolous, eccentric, etc..

   She has a lunatic charm that is quite engaging.

lunatic

/ ˈluːnətɪk /

adjective

1. an archaic word for insane

2. foolish; eccentric; crazy

noun

1. a person who is insane

Other Word Forms

• lunatically adverb
• half-lunatic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lunatic¹

1250–1300; Middle English lunatik, from Old French lunatique, from Late Latin lūnāticus “moonstruck.” See Luna, -tic ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of lunatic¹

C13 (adj) via Old French from Late Latin lūnāticus crazy, moonstruck, from Latin lūna moon

Example Sentences

One senior figure sums up the situation with no pleasure – discussion about changing the Labour leader "is both lunatic, and real".

From BBC

“But we’re dealing with a radical left group of lunatics, and they don’t play fair and they never did.”

From Salon

As well has his colourful remarks to me on the phone during our recent interview, the US President has variously called judges "crooked", "monsters", "deranged", "lunatics", "USA hating", and "radical left".

From BBC

"These are radical left lunatics that you're dealing with," he said.

From Salon

Trump can rail against the lunatic radical left for the scourge of illegal immigration, but the statement that “employers are ready to hire them” couldn’t be more true.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crazed 
• cuckoo 
• maniacal