What does mental mean?
Mental is an adjective relating to the mind, thought, emotion, or psychological wellbeing. It appears in expressions such as mental health, mental illness, mental state, and mental performance, where it describes conditions or processes connected with cognition and emotion rather than the body. The word can also refer informally to someone regarded as psychologically unwell or behaving unusually, but that use may sound dated or stigmatizing and is usually inappropriate in sensitive contexts. Mental is especially common in discussions of healthcare, education, work, and wellbeing: mental health concerns a person's psychological and emotional condition, while mental performance concerns how effectively a person thinks, learns, remembers, or concentrates. Its association with the broader idea of the mind makes it useful whenever an idea, condition, or activity needs to be distinguished from something merely physical.
Relating to, concerning, or affecting the mind, thoughts, emotions, or psychological wellbeing.
"Regular breaks can improve mental concentration during long tasks."
The adjective is standard in general English, including formal clinical, educational, and workplace contexts.
Informally, a person regarded as mentally ill or as behaving in a mentally disturbed way.
"The expression is considered offensive and should be avoided in professional or sensitive contexts."
This noun use is informal and potentially derogatory; “person with a mental illness” is more precise and respectful in clinical or descriptive contexts.
From the Latin for “of the mind,” mental has become shorthand for anything concerning our thoughts, feelings, or psychological wellbeing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mental come from?
Mental derives from the Latin adjective mentalis, meaning “of the mind,” which in turn was formed from mens, mentis, the Latin noun for “mind” or “intellect.” English borrowed the word in the early 17th century for matters concerning the mind. Its later development is reflected in related English forms such as mentality, mentally, and mentalism, all of which continue the Latin root associated with the mind.
Related word forms
How mental is actually used
In its third sense, the word is informal and can be considered insensitive or stigmatizing when used to describe a person's behavior. In compounds such as mental health and mental illness, it is standard and widely accepted.
Easily confused with mental
Mental relates to the mind, whereas metallic describes something made of or resembling metal.