noun
madman
MAD-muhn
noun
1
A man who behaves in an insane, irrational, or extremely reckless way.
"He drove like a madman to get to the hospital in time."
"The crowd cheered as the madman on stage smashed his guitar."
How to Use Madman
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA man acting wildly, irrationally, or with reckless disregard for danger.
When to use it
Often used loosely and hyperbolically for reckless behavior rather than literal mental illness; some consider it insensitive in clinical contexts.
Common pairings
drive like a madman
scream like a madman
Word Forms
madmen plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “madman”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He drove like a _____ to get to the hospital in time.
Etymology
A compound of mad and man.