lunatic

[ loo-nuh-tik ]

noun

1. (no longer in technical use; now considered offensive) an insane person.
2. a person whose actions and manner are marked by extreme eccentricity or recklessness.
3. a person legally declared to be of unsound mind and who therefore is not held capable or responsible before the law: a former legal term.

adjective

1. (no longer in technical use; now considered offensive) insane.
2. characteristic or suggestive of lunacy; wildly or recklessly foolish.
3. Older Use. designated for or used by the insane:

   a lunatic asylum.

4. gaily or lightheartedly mad, frivolous, eccentric, etc.:

   She has a lunatic charm that is quite engaging.

lunatic

/ ˈluːnətɪk /

adjective

1. an archaic word for insane
2. foolish; eccentric; crazy

noun

1. a person who is insane

Derived Forms

• luˈnatically, adverb

Other Words From

• lu·nati·cal·ly adverb
• half-luna·tic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lunatic¹

1250–1300; Middle English lunatik, from Old French lunatique, from Late Latin lūnāticus “moonstruck.” See Luna, -tic ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of lunatic¹

C13 (adj) via Old French from Late Latin lūnāticus crazy, moonstruck, from Latin lūna moon

Example Sentences

Craig Bellamy hopes his successful start as Wales head coach has proved he is not the "lunatic" some expected him to be.

From BBC

Trump has repeatedly vowed to go after anybody who opposes his administration’s political beliefs and has even suggested that he would deploy the military on "radical left lunatics."

From Salon

He also threatened to use the U.S. military after the election against “radical-left lunatics,” including Democrats, who he has dubbed the “enemy from within.”

From Los Angeles Times

Will the end result be the same if Trump fulfills his apparent threat to deploy the U.S. military against his political opponents, whom he describes as “radical left lunatics” and “the enemy from within”?

From Salon

Then there’s his repeated talk of “the enemy from within,” by which Trump explicitly means his Democratic enemies, “radical left lunatics.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crazed
• cuckoo
• maniacal