non compos mentis

[ nohn kohm-pohs men-tis; English non kom-puh s men-tis ]
/ ˈnoʊn ˈkoʊm poʊs ˈmɛn tɪs; English ˈnɒn ˈkɒm pəs ˈmɛn tɪs /

adjective Latin.

not of sound mind; mentally incapable of managing one's affairs.

Words nearby non compos mentis

British Dictionary definitions for compos mentis

non compos mentis
/ Latin (ˈnɒn ˈkɒmpəs ˈmɛntɪs) /

adjective

mentally incapable of managing one's own affairs; of unsound mind

Word Origin for non compos mentis

Latin: not in control of one's mind

Medical definitions for compos mentis

non compos mentis
[ nŏn kŏm′pəs mĕntĭs ]

adj.

Not of sound mind and hence not legally responsible; mentally incompetent.

Cultural definitions for compos mentis

non compos mentis
[ (non kom-puhs men-tis) ]

A phrase used to describe someone who is out of his or her mind and therefore not legally responsible for his or her actions: “It was determined by the court that the killer was non compos mentis.” From Latin, meaning “not having control of the mind.”