Meaning & Definition of word "Lunatic"

Lunatic

/ˈluː.nə.tɪk/

1. A person who is considered to be insane or mad.
- Example: The authorities believed that the lunatic posed a danger to himself and others.
2. A person who is wildly eccentric or has irrational behavior.
- Example: His friends jokingly called him a lunatic for his outlandish ideas.

1. Relating to or characterized by lunacy; insane.
- Example: Her lunatic plans to travel the world without any money left everyone baffled.

The word lunatic comes from the Latin 'lunaticus', which means 'moonstruck', from 'luna', meaning 'moon'.

lunatic asylum:

A hospital for individuals with mental illness.

lunatic fringe:

A group of people who hold extreme views and are regarded as social misfits.

drive someone to lunacy:

To make someone extremely agitated or irrational.

insanity:

A condition of being seriously mentally ill; a state of mind which prevents normal perception.

madness:

The state of being mad; extreme folly or unreasonableness.

crazy:

Mentally deranged; extremely enthusiastic or wildly out of control.

Meaning: Loony

Example Sentence: He's acting a little loony today, must have had too much caffeine.

Meaning: Nutcase

Example Sentence: Don't mind him, he's just an old nutcase.

Meaning: Fruitcake

Example Sentence: She's a complete fruitcake if she believes those conspiracy theories.