# madmen

/ˈmædmən/ (US) · /mˈædmɛn/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/madmen
Updated: 2026-10-15

## Definition

men who behave in a wild, crazy or dangerous way, often because of mental illness.

For teachers: the plural of 'madman'; refers to men who are mentally ill or who behave in a wild, irrational or dangerous way.

## Examples

- People call them madmen, but they need help.
- The old stories describe madmen wandering the streets, shouting at strangers nobody else could see.
- History often remembers its madmen with uneasy fascination, unsure whether to pity their suffering or fear the chaos they unleashed.

## Pitfalls

- Not "madmans" but "madmen" — The plural of 'madman' is irregular — 'man' changes to 'men'.

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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.