delirium
Americannoun
plural
deliriums, deliria-
Pathology. a more or less temporary disorder of the mental faculties, as in fevers, disturbances of consciousness, or intoxication, characterized by restlessness, excitement, delusions, hallucinations, etc.
-
a state of violent excitement or emotion.
noun
-
a state of excitement and mental confusion, often accompanied by hallucinations, caused by high fever, poisoning, brain injury, etc
-
violent excitement or emotion; frenzy
Other Word Forms
- deliriant adjective
- semidelirium noun
Etymology
Origin of delirium
1590–1600; < Latin dēlīrium frenzy, equivalent to dēlīr ( āre ) ( see deliration) + -ium -ium
Explanation
Experiencing delirium? Then you're out of your mind and so excited you're hallucinating. Many things can cause delirium, including illness, high stress, and your team winning the World Series after 100 years of trying. Delirium means “madness” in Latin, and for good reason. Patients with high fevers or who suffer severe trauma might experience a state of delirium, full of mental confusion and maybe a little hysteria. And if you’ve ever stayed up all night writing a paper or working hard to meet some deadline, you’ve probably experienced moments of delirium, where you feel crazed and hallucinatory, fueled by sleep deprivation and too much coffee.
Vocabulary lists containing delirium
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Unit 1: Telling Details
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Those who’ve managed to come out of this new kind of tech-enabled delirium have learned how vital it is to stay in touch with the natural world and their natural instincts.
From Slate • Feb. 2, 2026
The equaliser sent Tynecastle into an advanced state of delirium.
From BBC • Jan. 25, 2026
Watching the video, I found myself enchanted, identifying with its sense of delirium and fun, which reminded me of the best parts of being young.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025
Mary Ann Patten is 19—petite, pretty and pregnant—when her husband, the captain of Neptune’s Car, the clipper ship she’s on, is struck down by disease and delirium from the tuberculosis that will ultimately kill him.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 8, 2025
I don’t know if he is fully awake or in a delirium.
From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
