madness

American  

[mad-nis] / ˈmæd nɪs /

noun

1. the state of being mad; insanity.

2. senseless folly.

   It is sheer madness to speak as you do.

3. frenzy; rage.

4. intense excitement or enthusiasm.

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madness British  

/ ˈmædnɪs /

noun

1. insanity; lunacy

2. extreme anger, excitement, or foolishness

3. a nontechnical word for rabies

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madness Idioms  

1. see method in one's madness.

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Other Word Forms

• premadness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of madness

First recorded in 1350–1400, madness is from the Middle English word madnesse. See mad, -ness

Explanation

Madness is foolish, impulsive behavior. It would be madness to ride on the back of your friend's car, standing on the bumper. A screaming crowd waiting to see their favorite rock star creates an atmosphere of madness — and their enthusiasm itself can be described as madness. You could also say that donating all your money to an animal shelter would be madness, or describe the madness of a busy Thanksgiving Day sale. Madness sometimes takes on its original meaning, "mental instability" or "insanity."

Example Sentences

I barely understood it — to me, it functioned like a random madness machine.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

However, his view is that "having a strict policy about using the toilet is madness".

From BBC • May 16, 2026

There might be some method in that madness.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

Witnessing a friend of a friend’s cousin credit a famous woman for her maternal nature, side by side with the person who literally gave birth to them, is a unique reality of our modern madness.

From Salon • May 10, 2026

“Their madness will bring misfortune upon us all!”

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Related Words

• absurdity
• craziness
• delusion
• foolishness
• hysteria
• lunacy
• mania
• mental illness
• stupidity