insanity
[ in-san-i-tee ]
/ ɪnˈsæn ɪ ti /
noun, plural in·san·i·ties.
the condition of being insane; a derangement of the mind.
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.
Psychiatry.
(formerly) psychosis.
- extreme foolishness; folly; senselessness; foolhardiness: Trying to drive through that traffic would be pure insanity.
- a foolish or senseless action, policy, statement, etc.: We've heard decades of insanities in our political discourse.
Words nearby insanity
insalivate,
insalubrious,
insane,
insanitary,
insanitation,
insanity,
insatiable,
insatiate,
inscape,
inscribe,
inscription
Example sentences from the Web for insanity
British Dictionary definitions for insanity
insanity
/ (ɪnˈsænɪtɪ) /
noun plural -ties
relatively permanent disorder of the mind; state or condition of being insane
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
utter folly; stupidity
Medical definitions for insanity
insanity
[ ĭn-săn′ĭ-tē ]
n.
Persistent mental disorder or derangement. Not in scientific use.
Unsoundness of mind sufficient in the judgment of a civil court to render a person unfit to maintain a contractual or other legal relationship or to warrant commitment to a mental health facility.
In most criminal jurisdictions, a degree of mental malfunctioning considered to be sufficient to relieve the accused of legal responsibility for the act committed.