Meaning & use
bipolar
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Meanings
adjectivenot comparablemedical
Relating to a mental health condition in which a person has periods of deep depression and periods of extreme excitement or high energy.
Grammar: Used before a noun (bipolar disorder) or after a linking verb (she is bipolar). Not used in comparative forms.
Patterns
- bipolar disorder
- diagnosed as bipolar
- suffer from bipolar disorder
She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after years of severe mood swings.
People with bipolar disorder may experience manic episodes followed by depression.
The charity provides support for families affected by bipolar disorder.
adjectivenot comparabletechnical
Having two opposite poles or extremes, as in a magnet or a situation with two opposing sides.
Grammar: Used before a noun: a bipolar magnet, a bipolar world. Not usually used after a linking verb in this sense.
Patterns
- bipolar magnet
- bipolar world
- bipolar system
A bipolar magnet has a north and a south pole.
The Cold War created a bipolar world divided between two superpowers.
The debate became bipolar, with strong opinions on both sides.
Common combinations
- bipolar disorder
- Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that requires professional treatment.
- bipolar depression
- Bipolar depression can be difficult to distinguish from major depression.
- bipolar magnet
- The bipolar magnet attracted both iron filings and other magnets.
- bipolar world
- Some analysts argue that we are moving toward a bipolar world order.
Synonyms and how they differ
- manic-depressive
- An older term for bipolar disorder; now less common and sometimes considered outdated.
- two-pole
- Used in technical contexts for magnets or electrical circuits; not for the mental health condition.
Opposites
Word family
- bipolarity noun
- The state of having two poles or extremes.
Commonly confused: bipolar or bipolar vs. manic?
bipolar vs bipolar vs. manic
Manic describes a period of extreme energy and excitement; bipolar describes the overall condition that includes both manic and depressive episodes.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'bipolar' correctly and sensitively?
Choose one answer.
Bipolar refers to a diagnosed mental health condition, so it should not be used casually for ordinary changes in mood or behavior. The other options trivialize the condition.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “bipolar”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.