schizophrenic

American  

[skit-suh-fren-ik] / ˌskɪt səˈfrɛn ɪk /

adjective

1. Psychiatry. of or relating to schizophrenia.

   Not all of these patients are schizophrenic.

2. of or relating to conflicting or inconsistent elements; characterized by unusual disparity.

   It wavers from comedy to thriller to docudrama—a totally schizophrenic plot!

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noun

Psychiatry.

1. a person with schizophrenia.

   Schizophrenics are often unable to focus on certain objects.

schizophrenic British  

/ ˌskɪtsəʊˈfrɛnɪk /

adjective

1. exhibiting symptoms of schizophrenia

2. informal experiencing or maintaining contradictory attitudes, emotions, etc

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noun

1. a schizophrenic person

Usage

It is preferable to refer to a person as someone with a diagnosis of schizophrenia rather than as a schizophrenic . The general use of the word to mean 'contradictory' is also best avoided. Suitable alternatives are contradictory , inconsistent , incoherent

Etymology

Origin of schizophrenic

First recorded in 1910–15; schizophren(ia) ( def. ) + -ic ( def. )

Example Sentences

When he was arrested on suspicion of murder, Askari denied killing Veisi and said he was a "diagnosed schizophrenic" and he was "hearing voices in my head".

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

“You almost have a schizophrenic personality on AI right now,” Kolano said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

Yet when Lin attempts to break out using strobe effects to reflect Joe’s schizophrenic episodes, it comes off more jarring than immersive.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2025

I did a film called “The Saint of Fort Washington,” where I played a homeless schizophrenic.

From Salon • Mar. 25, 2025

Their symptoms ranged from impairment of memory to schizophrenic and depressive reactions.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson