What does hysteria mean?
Hysteria is a noun for a state of intense, uncontrolled emotional excitement, anxiety, panic, or agitation, particularly when shared by many people. Expressions such as “mass hysteria” and “public hysteria” describe frantic or exaggerated reactions spreading through a crowd, while the singular form can refer to one person's extreme agitation. The word can sound dramatic or dismissive, so it is more appropriate for clearly chaotic or collective reactions than for ordinary worry or excitement. Hysteria also has an important historical medical sense: it was once used as a broad diagnosis for people experiencing rapidly changing emotions and unexplained physical symptoms. That usage is now obsolete, and applying the term to an individual can trivialize genuine distress. The word is especially memorable because its name comes from ancient Greek beliefs about the uterus, or womb, supposedly moving within a woman's body and producing emotional and physical disturbances.
nounA state of intense, uncontrolled excitement, anxiety, or emotional agitation. In historical medicine, it referred to a disorder characterized by fluctuating emotions and sometimes physical symptoms.
- Wildly excited or agitated behaviour, especially among a crowd or group.
- A historical medical diagnosis characterized by emotional instability and, in some cases, physical symptoms without a demonstrable cause.
"The announcement triggered a frenzy of hysteria among the waiting crowd."
"News of the victory produced scenes of hysteria throughout the stadium."
"The doctor dismissed the diagnosis of hysteria and sought a physical explanation for her symptoms."
The singular and collective forms are much more usual; plural forms are possible when referring to separate outbreaks or episodes.
"The documentary examines two hysterias that developed in separate communities."
Hysteria was once blamed on a “wandering womb”: ancient physicians believed that the organ could roam around the female body and cause fits of terror and emotion.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hysteria come from?
Hysteria comes through Latin from Greek hystēria, a term associated with hysteros, meaning “womb” or “uterus.” Ancient Greek physicians believed that hysteria arose when the womb was displaced within the body, so the disorder was thought to have a specifically uterine origin. English borrowed the word in the late 16th century for both medical and emotional meanings.
Related word forms
How hysteria is actually used
The expression is often informal or figurative when referring to exaggerated emotional reactions. In medicine, “hysteria” is now considered an obsolete diagnostic term and should not be used as a substitute for a precise clinical assessment.
Easily confused with hysteria
Hysteria names the emotional state or condition, whereas hysterics usually denotes the outward behaviour associated with it, especially prolonged crying, shouting, or panic.