Mental

/ˈmɛn.təl/ adj, noun, slang

adj, noun, slang ·Common ·Middle school level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: State of mind; ellipsis of mental state.
  • Grammar: mental is listed as adj, noun, slang.
  • Nearest alternatives: abnormal, abstract, affective, balmy.
  • Useful contrasts: behavioral traits, bodily, bodily adjustment.
  • Usage evidence: A high forehead is indicative of great mental power.

How to use "mental"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "mental" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "mental" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "mental" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "mental" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "mental" is acting as adj, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "abnormal" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "mental", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    State of mind; ellipsis of mental state. slang

    "y'all need to fix your mentals"

  2. 2
    A plate or scale covering the mentum or chin of a fish or reptile.
  3. 3
    A mentally challenged person. India, offensive
Adjective
  1. 1
    Of or relating to the mind or specifically the total emotional and intellectual response of an individual to external reality.; Occurring or experienced in the mind. relational

    "I don't mean all of your friends—only a small proportion—which, however, connects your circle with that deadly, idle, brainless bunch—the insolent chatterers at the opera,[…], the neurotic victims of mental cirrhosis, the jewelled animals whose moral code is the code of the barnyard—!"

  2. 2
    Of or relating to the chin or median part of the lower jaw, genial. not-comparable, relational

    "the mental nerve, the mental region"

  3. 3
    Of or relating to the mind or specifically the total emotional and intellectual response of an individual to external reality.; Relating to the mind, its activity, or its products as an object of study. relational

    "mental science"

  4. 4
    Of or relating to the chinlike or liplike structure. not-comparable, relational
  5. 5
    Of or relating to the mind or specifically the total emotional and intellectual response of an individual to external reality.; Of or relating to intellectual as contrasted with emotional activity. relational

    "mental acuity"

Show 7 more definitions
  1. 6
    Of or relating to the mind or specifically the total emotional and intellectual response of an individual to external reality.; Of, relating to, or being intellectual as contrasted with overt physical activity. relational

    "Irregular bedtimes may disrupt healthy brain development in young children, according to a study of intelligence and sleeping habits. ¶ Going to bed at a different time each night affected girls more than boys, but both fared worse on mental tasks than children who had a set bedtime, researchers found."

  2. 7
    Of or relating to the mind or specifically the total emotional and intellectual response of an individual to external reality.; Relating to spirit or idea as opposed to matter. relational

    "the distinction between physical things and mental ideas"

  3. 8
    Of, relating to, or affected by a psychiatric disorder.

    "a mental patient"

  4. 9
    Of, relating to, or affected by a psychiatric disorder.; Intended for the care or treatment of persons affected by psychiatric disorders. relational

    "mental hospitals"

  5. 10
    Of, relating to, or affected by a psychiatric disorder.; Mentally disordered; insane, mad, crazy. Australia, Canada, Ireland, New-Zealand, UK, colloquial, comparable, dated

    "He is the most mental freshman I've seen yet."

  6. 11
    Enjoyable or fun, especially in a frenetic way. Australia, Ireland, New-Zealand, UK, colloquial, comparable

    "That was a mental party last night."

  7. 12
    Of or relating to telepathic or mind-reading powers.

    "mental telepathy"

Adjective
  1. 1
    affected by a disorder of the mind wordnet
  2. 2
    involving the mind or an intellectual process wordnet
  3. 3
    of or relating to the chin or median part of the lower jaw wordnet
  4. 4
    of or relating to the chin- or liplike structure in insects and certain mollusks wordnet
  5. 5
    of or relating to the mind wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
abnormalabstractaffectivebalmybananasbarmy

Antonyms

behavioral traitsbodilybodily adjustmentbodily animality

Example

"A high forehead is indicative of great mental power."

Common questions

What does "mental" mean?

State of mind; ellipsis of mental state.

What is a synonym for "mental"?

Common synonyms include: abnormal, abstract, affective, balmy, bananas, barmy.

How do you use "mental" in a sentence?

A high forehead is indicative of great mental power.

How do you pronounce "mental"?

Pronounced /ˈmɛn.təl/.

Etymology

Etymology 1

Borrowing from Middle French mental, from Late Latin mentālis, from mēns (“mind, disposition; heart, soul”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix).

Etymology 2

c. 1727, from Latin mentum (“the chin”) + -al.

More for "mental"

Synonyms

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