mental illness

American  

noun

1. any of the various forms of psychosis or severe neurosis.

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mental illness British  

noun

1. any of various disorders in which a person's thoughts, emotions, or behaviour are so abnormal as to cause suffering to himself, herself, or other people

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mental illness Scientific  

/ mĕn′tl /

1. Any of various psychiatric disorders or diseases, usually characterized by impairment of thought, mood, or behavior.

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Etymology

Origin of mental illness

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

Critics of involuntary civil-commitment programs argue they violate civil liberties and stigmatize mental illness.

From The Wall Street Journal

It forced us to consider his struggles with mental illness in combination with the impact of his mother’s untimely death.

From Salon

The Metropolitan State Hospital opened in Norwalk in 1916, a self-contained facility complete with its own farm that treated people with mental illness.

From Los Angeles Times

"My uncle has a mental illness. The poor man had convinced himself he was dead," they told the BBC.

From BBC

A psychiatrist and an attorney in San Diego say an existing statute could address severe mental illness and addiction.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• insanity
• mental disorder