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noun [ plural ] uk / ɪnˈseɪn / us / ɪnˈseɪn / the insane. mentally ill people: a hospital for the criminally insane.
1. a (1) dated, now usually offensive : exhibiting a severely disordered state of mind. (2) law : affected with insanity (see insanity sense 2) criminally insane. b. : unable to think in a clear or sensible way. insane with jealousy. not used technically. 2.
adjective. (not in technical use as a medical diagnosis) not sane; not of sound mind; mentally deranged. Synonyms: irrational, foolish, maniacal, crazy, crazed, lunatic, demented. of, relating to, or characteristic of a person who is mentally deranged: a wild and insane look on her face.
Insane is a formal or old-fashioned term used in the past to describe somebody with a serious mental illness. It can now be offensive, although it still has a technical use in law meaning that somebody is not able to understand that their own actions are wrong or not able to understand a trial process:
People who are insane are suffering from a seriously irrational or disordered state of mind. When someone commits a crime, it's important to know if they were sane or insane. If they're insane, the penalty is different.
1. a. Of, exhibiting, or afflicted with mental derangement. Not used in psychiatric diagnosis. b. Characteristic of or associated with persons who are mentally deranged: an insane laugh; insane babbling. c. Intended for use by such persons: an insane asylum. 2. Having been determined to be in a condition that meets the legal definition of insanity.
a. severely mentally ill, so that normal thinking and behaviour is impossible. b. ( as collective noun; preceded by the) the insane. 2. law. not responsible for one's actions or not capable of managing one's own affairs because of a defect of reason. 3. characteristic of an insane person.
insane (informal) having a mind that does not work normally: If I have to stay any longer, I'll go insane. Insane is also used as a legal term for someone who is not responsible for a crime they have committed because they were not able to know right from wrong at the time.
There are nine meanings listed in OED's entry for the word insane. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. insane has developed meanings and uses in subjects including. medicine (late 1500s) psychiatry (early 1700s) See meaning & use.
INSANE definition: 1. seriously mentally ill: 2. very silly or stupid: . Learn more.
