mentally ill

American  

adjective

1. having a mental illness.

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noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. Usually the mentally ill mentally ill persons collectively.

Etymology

Origin of mentally ill

First recorded in 1935–40

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mentally ill

It began with small accounts on social media speculating or claiming that Talarico was out not because he was physically ill but because he was mentally ill.

From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026

"The only thing we knew about my medical history is my biological mom was mentally ill, and had depression."

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

The three daughters called their mother mentally ill; Allan did not.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026

When it comes to housing, poverty, healthcare and streets occupied by people who are addicted or mentally ill, the failures go back decades, touch all levels of government, and cross party lines.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 30, 2026

In fact, there are more than three times the number of seriously mentally ill individuals in jail or prison than in hospitals; in some states that number is ten times.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

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