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Glite Dictionary
mental abnormality

mental abnormality

1 7.5
A condition where a person's thinking or feelings work very differently from usual and cause problems
  • noun
  • /ˈmɛntəl æbˈnɔrməlɪti/
  • Specialized
translation icon : anomalía mental
  • mental abnormality or personality disorder

Examples

  • A number of states currently have laws that permit the government to seek civil commitment of sex offenders who suffer from mental abnormalities or personality disorders that render them likely to engage in future violent sex crimes.

    Academic text (2005)

  • Many individuals living with a mental abnormality require specialized support to lead fulfilling lives.

  • The court must decide whether the defendant's mental abnormality significantly influenced his actions at the time of the crime.

  • Understanding a mental abnormality can help families provide better care and understanding for their loved ones.

Synonyms

disorder
vsmental abnormality
  • Specialized
449 4.3

A health condition in which the body or mind do not work normally

focuses specifically on deviation from normal mind functioning rather than all medical issues
mental illness
vsmental abnormality
129 3.1

A health problem that affects how a person thinks, feels, or behaves and may need medical help

covers any departure from normal mind functions, not only medically treated cases
mental disorder
vsmental abnormality
  • Specialized
20 3.3

A condition that causes problems with thinking, feeling, or behaving

is a deviation from normal mind functions rather than a clinical disturbance
mental disease
vsmental abnormality
  • Specialized
5 4.1

A serious problem that affects a person's mind and feelings and may need medical help

can include milder deviations in mind function not always needing psychiatry
psychological disorder
vsmental abnormality
  • Specialized
3 4.6

A condition that changes a person's thoughts, feelings, or behavior and causes problems in life

is broader, meaning any deviation from normal mind processes rather than diagnosis
aberration
vsmental abnormality
  • Specialized
3 8.7

A temporary or lasting change in a person's mind that makes their behavior strange

is the general concept of deviation rather than a brief or unusual episode
derangement
vsmental abnormality
  • Specialized
1 8.5

A severe state when someone cannot think clearly or control their mind

can be less extreme, covering any deviation from normal mind functioning
psychopathia
vsmental abnormality
  • Archaic
1 9.9

An old medical word for a mental illness

is the general term for any deviation from normal mind processes rather than a label
mental unsoundness
vsmental abnormality
  • Formal
8.5

A state where a person's mind is not working well and they cannot think or act normally

is any deviation from normal mind functions and may not cause disorientation

How Severe

psychosis
  • Specialized
52 8.7
mental illness
129 3.1
mental disorder
  • Specialized
20 3.3
mental abnormality
  • Specialized
1 7.5
eccentricity
15 7.8

Surface Forms

mental abnormality singular
mental abnormalities plural

Morphology

mental + abnormality

The meaning of 'mental abnormality' is directly compositional: 'mental' (relating to the mind) modifies 'abnormality' (a deviation from the norm), so the phrase straightforwardly denotes an abnormality of mental functioning. This adjective + noun pattern is common cross-linguistically and follows standard English composition, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reliably infer the meaning.

Etymology

Mental abnormality is a simple picture: mental means 'mind' and abnormality means 'something not normal'. So it describes a mind that works differently from most people's, and that's why it means 'a condition when the way someone's mind works is not normal'.