mass hysteria

American  

noun

Psychology.

1. a condition affecting a group of persons, characterized by excitement or anxiety, irrational behavior or beliefs, or inexplicable symptoms of illness.

---

Etymology

Origin of mass hysteria

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

She has them read books such as The Crucible and the Lord of the Flies to teach about the dangers of mass hysteria and group vilification.

From Slate • Dec. 5, 2025

In some cases, they have attributed reported health-effects from fume exposure to factors including hyperventilation, jet lag, psychological stress, mass hysteria and malingering.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 14, 2025

The imperfect protagonist of “The Crucible” takes a heroic stand against the mass hysteria that is turning his Salem neighbors viciously against one another.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2025

“There’s precedent for this type of almost mass hysteria in the medical industry, unfortunately, and we’re seeing it. But it can’t go on indefinitely. It’s too irrational,” Mr. LiMandri said.

From Washington Times • Dec. 5, 2023

At this rate we’ll have mass hysteria before too long, and when that happens we’re all goners.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland