schizophrenic
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
IPA: //ˌskɪtsəˈfrɛnɪk//
KK: /skɪtsəˈfrɛnɪk/
adjective
Definition
Relating to a mental disorder characterized by a disconnection from reality, often involving hallucinations or delusions.
Example
The film portrayed a schizophrenic character who struggled to distinguish between reality and imagination.
Conversation
I watched a documentary about people with schizophrenic disorders.
Oh really? That sounds interesting but also a bit heavy.
Yeah, it was fascinating to see how they cope with it.
I can imagine. Mental health topics can be really complex.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
divided
conflicted
disparate
Antonyms
unified
coherent
harmonious
noun
Definition
A person who has a mental disorder characterized by a disconnection from reality, often including hallucinations and delusions.
Example
The doctor diagnosed him as a schizophrenic after observing his symptoms.
Conversation
I met someone yesterday who is a schizophrenic.
Oh really? That must have been an interesting conversation.
Yeah, they shared a lot about their experiences living with it.
Root Explanation
Schizophrenic → It is formed from "schizo-" (from Greek "schizein", meaning to split) and "phren" (from Greek "phrenos", meaning mind). The word describes a condition characterized by a split or disconnection in mental functions.
Memory Tip
Think of 'splitting' ('schizo-') of the 'mind' ('phren') to remember that 'schizophrenic' refers to a mental condition involving a split in thought processes.
Visually Confused Words
No commonly confused words.