insanity

[ in-san-i-tee ]

noun

, plural in·san·i·ties.

1. (not in technical use as a medical diagnosis) the condition of being insane; a derangement of the mind.

   Synonyms: craziness, madness, lunacy, aberration, mania

2. Law. such unsoundness of mind as frees one from legal responsibility, as for committing a crime, or as signals one's lack of legal capacity, as for entering into a contractual agreement.
3. Psychiatry. (formerly) psychosis.
4. 1. extreme foolishness:

      Trying to drive through that traffic would be pure insanity.

   2. a foolish or senseless action, policy, statement, etc.:

      We've heard decades of insanities in our political discourse.

insanity

/ ɪnˈsænɪtɪ /

noun

1. relatively permanent disorder of the mind; state or condition of being insane
2. law a defect of reason as a result of mental illness, such that a defendant does not know what he or she is doing or that it is wrong
3. utter folly; stupidity

Word History and Origins

Origin of insanity¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin insānitāt-, stem of insānitās “unsoundness of mind, insanity”; in- ³, sanity

Example Sentences

A spokesperson for Pelosi told The Independent that Trump's remarks were "just the usual projection of his own insanity."

From Salon

The teenager, who admitted assaulting the two boys and the housemaster, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder by reason of insanity due to his sleepwalking.

From BBC

They worry that the full insanity and incoherence of what Trump says every day on the stump is lost in the snippets of his speeches that make it to news broadcasts.

From Salon

This is pure insanity what some are doing to HS kids.

From Los Angeles Times

Quote: “It has been said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. It’s time for new leadership and fresh ideas at LAUSD.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• absurdity
• alienation
• craziness
• folly
• frenzy
• hysteria
• irresponsibility
• lunacy
• madness
• mental disorder