# hysteria

/hɪˈstɛɹiə/ (US) · /hɪstˈiəɹɪɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hysteria
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 3. historical medical term

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

an old-fashioned medical name for mental health problems that people used to think only women had.

For teachers: a historical and now largely obsolete medical diagnosis for various psychological symptoms, formerly attributed to physiological causes in women.

- In the 1800s, doctors often diagnosed women with hysteria if they were acting upset.
- The Victorian concept of hysteria has been extensively critiqued by modern psychologists for its gender bias and lack of clinical accuracy.

Teaching tip: This sense is archaic and often considered sexist; modern speakers only use it when discussing history or literature.

## Examples

- The news caused a wave of hysteria in the small town.
- As the stock market crashed, a sense of collective hysteria took over the trading floor, leading to impulsive selling.
- Sociologists often study moral hysteria to understand how minor social deviations can be perceived as existential threats to the stability of a community.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.