schizophrenic

[ skit-suh-fren-ik ]

adjective

1. Psychiatry. of or relating to schizophrenia:

   Not all of these patients are schizophrenic.

2. of or relating to conflicting or inconsistent elements; characterized by unusual disparity:

   It wavers from comedy to thriller to docudrama—a totally schizophrenic plot!

noun

, Psychiatry.

1. a person with schizophrenia:

   Schizophrenics are often unable to focus on certain objects.

Word History and Origins

Origin of schizophrenic¹

First recorded in 1910–15; schizophren(ia) ( def ) + -ic ( def )

Example Sentences

The fact that about a kilometre away a car bomb exploded outside the Top Coffee restaurant which was packed with football fans highlights the schizophrenic nature of life in Somalia.

From BBC

His parents - who spotted their son on the news and alerted police - have said he was a diagnosed schizophrenic who had gone off his medication, suggesting he may have been obsessed with knives.

From BBC

Increased lactate levels and reduced pH in postmortem brains of schizophrenics: medication confounds.

From Science Daily

It’s such a confounding string of chapters that Martin has typically only approached his life piecemeal or schizophrenically.

From Seattle Times

Calocane, a paranoid schizophrenic, was sentenced to a hospital order in January after admitting three counts of manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility and three counts of attempted murder.

From BBC