Mental describes anything related to the mind, thinking, or emotions, such as mental health or mental effort. In informal speech, it can also mean 'crazy' or 'wild', though this use can be offensive.
From Late Latin “mentalis” meaning 'of the mind', from Latin “mens” 'mind, intellect'. It entered English via French. The psychological and medical uses grew with modern science of the mind.
Mental is from the same root as 'mentor' and 'mention'—all about the mind and thinking. Using 'mental' as an insult quietly turns a neutral word about the mind into a stigma, which is why many people now avoid that casual meaning.
The term 'mental' has been used in stigmatizing ways, often gendered—women pathologized as 'mentally unstable' and men discouraged from acknowledging mental health needs. Psychiatric labels have also been unevenly applied across genders.
Avoid using 'mental' as an insult or casual descriptor (e.g., 'that’s mental'); prefer precise terms like 'mental health' or 'cognitive'.
["psychological","cognitive","mental health–related"]
Women and gender-diverse activists have been central in destigmatizing mental health care and critiquing gender bias in diagnosis and treatment.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.