adj
Uncommon
bipolar
beye-POH-luh
Bipolar (adj) means relating to or affected by bipolar disorder, a mental health condition marked by extreme swings between depressive lows and manic highs. Example: “He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in his twenties.”
adj
1
Relating to or affected by bipolar disorder, a mental health condition marked by extreme swings between depressive lows and manic highs.
"He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in his twenties."
"Bipolar disorder can make a person's mood swing sharply over several weeks."
"Her doctor explained how bipolar patients can be helped with support and medication."
2
Having two distinct, often opposite, poles, sides, or extremes.
"The Cold War created a bipolar world order between two superpowers."
"The magnet has a bipolar structure, with a north end and a south end."
"The debate felt bipolar, with the room split into two opposing camps."
"Pakistan greatly resents this, but its efforts to adjust the complex have involved trying to make it more bipolar (via nuclear weapons), and not to move to another security order."
— David A. Lake, Patrick M. Morgan (1997)
How to use bipolar
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the mental health condition involving mood extremes, or, more generally, having two opposite poles or sides.
Common mistake
Avoid using "bipolar" casually to mean simply "moody" — it refers to a specific diagnosed condition, and using it loosely can be dismissive.
Common pairings
bipolar disorder
bipolar world
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more bipolar
- Superlative
- most bipolar
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He was diagnosed with _____ disorder in his twenties.
Etymology
From "bi-" (two) and "polar" (relating to a pole or extreme).
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
unipolar
Related words
Rhymes for bipolar
See all rhymes for bipolar →Frequently asked questions
What does “bipolar” mean?
The word “bipolar” means relating to or affected by bipolar disorder, a mental health condition marked by extreme swings between depressive lows and manic highs. In plain terms, either the mental health condition involving mood extremes, or, more generally, having two opposite poles or sides.
How do you pronounce “bipolar”?
“Bipolar” is pronounced beye-POH-luh (/baɪˈpoʊ.lɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “bipolar” in a sentence?
Here is “bipolar” used in a sentence: “He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in his twenties.”
What part of speech is “bipolar”?
“Bipolar” is an adjective.
Where does the word “bipolar” come from?
The word “bipolar” comes from Latin. From "bi-" (two) and "polar" (relating to a pole or extreme).
Is “bipolar” a common word?
“Bipolar” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “bipolar” have?
“Bipolar” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to or affected by bipolar disorder, a mental health condition marked by extreme swings between depressive lows and manic highs.
What is the difference between "bipolar" and "manic depressive"?
"Bipolar" is the modern clinical term for the mental health condition marked by extreme swings between depressive lows and manic highs, while "manic depressive" is an older label for the same condition. Bipolar disorder is now the standard term used by mental health professionals.
Can "bipolar" be used outside of mental health contexts?
Yes, "bipolar" also has a general sense meaning having two distinct, often opposite, poles, sides, or extremes, such as a bipolar magnet or a bipolar debate with two sharply divided viewpoints. This non-clinical sense is common in science and in descriptions of stark contrasts.
Is it correct to say someone "is bipolar"?
It is common informal usage to describe a person as "bipolar," meaning they have bipolar disorder, though many mental health guides prefer person-first phrasing like "a person with bipolar disorder." Both forms are widely understood, but the person-first version is considered more respectful in clinical and journalistic writing.
