mentally ill
Americanadjective
noun
Etymology
Origin of mentally ill
First recorded in 1935–40
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.
Wiseman caused instant controversy with his first film, "Titicut Follies," which remains one of his most famous documentaries, shot in 1967 and capturing the bleak reality of an asylum for the mentally ill, Bridgewater.
From Barron's ● Feb. 16, 2026
“The Housemaid” would be enjoyable enough had Seyfried only been giving a layered performance as a mentally ill housewife.
From Salon ● Jan. 31, 2026
“We know the central premise behind mental health diversion is that if we obtain mental health treatment for those that are mentally ill that are committing crimes, the public will be safer,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 8, 2026
In 1811, Saxony’s king converted it into a model asylum for the mentally ill, and for many years it was.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 24, 2025
As for me, I didn’t think they’d understand, and I didn’t want anybody treating me as if I was diseased or mentally ill.
From "Bronx Masquerade" by Nikki Grimes
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
