men·tal
ˈmen-tᵊl 
1
a
: of or relating to the mind
specifically
: of or relating to the total emotional and intellectual response of an individual to external reality
mental health
b
: of or relating to intellectual as contrasted with emotional activity
mental acuity
c
: of, relating to, or being intellectual as contrasted with overt physical activity
made quick mental calculations
d
: occurring or experienced in the mind : inner
mental anguish
a mental breakdown
e
: relating to the mind, its activity, or its products as an object of study : ideological
mental science
f
: relating to spirit or idea as opposed to matter
… the distinction between physical things and mental ideas—
John W. Yolton
John W. Yolton2
b
sometimes offensive
: intended for the care or treatment of persons affected by psychiatric disorders
mental hospitals
3
: of or relating to telepathic or mind-reading powers
mental telepathy
: of or relating to the chin : genial
Examples of mental in a Sentence
Adjective (1)
a funny mental image made him laugh out loud
humane treatment of mental patients
Recent Examples on the Web
Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Suppose the mental triggers for weeping are the antithesis of the triggers for laughter.
—Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
After being wrongfully imprisoned in a mental asylum, an author is faced with a decision to surrender to insanity or fight for her sanity.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 23 Sep. 2025
Klinkamon’s adult child had a mental breakdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, disappearing for months and even at times leaving California.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2025
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Adjective
After all, calculators are more reliable than mental math.
—Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Suppose the mental triggers for weeping are the antithesis of the triggers for laughter.
—Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
After being wrongfully imprisoned in a mental asylum, an author is faced with a decision to surrender to insanity or fight for her sanity.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 23 Sep. 2025
Klinkamon’s adult child had a mental breakdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, disappearing for months and even at times leaving California.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mental
Cite this Entry
“Mental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mental. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
mental
1 of 2 adjective
men·tal
ˈment-ᵊl
1
a
: of or relating to the mind
specifically
: of or relating to the total emotional and intellectual response of an individual to external reality
b
: of or relating to intellectual as contrasted with emotional activity
2
a
often offensive
: of, relating to, or affected by a psychiatric disorder
a mental patient
b
sometimes offensive
: intended for the care or treatment of persons affected by psychiatric disorders
mental hospitals
mental
2 of 2 adjective
: of or relating to the chin : genial
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