madness
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
very stupid or dangerous behavior that makes no sense.
extreme foolishness or lack of reason; behavior that is reckless or illogical.
Simple“It would be absolute madness to drive through the mountains during a snowstorm.”
In context“The decision to invest the entire pension fund in such a volatile market was sheer madness, as any financial advisor could have predicted.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
a state of serious mental illness.
a state of severe mental instability or disorder. This usage is often considered dated or insensitive in modern clinical contexts.
Simple“In the old story, the king's madness grew worse as he lost his power.”
In context“The novel explores the thin line between artistic genius and clinical madness, set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century London.”
UsageIn modern medicine, specific terms like 'psychosis' or 'disorder' are preferred over this general term.
Teacher's tipThis sense is common in classic literature like Shakespeare, but students should avoid using it to describe mental health today.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
From Middle English madnes, madnesse; equivalent to mad + -ness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.