What does suicidal mean?
Suicidal is an adjective meaning relating to suicide, especially describing a person who has thoughts of, intends, or may act on suicide. In clinical and public-safety contexts, it can refer to suicidal ideation, intent, impulses, tendencies, or behavior. The word is not merely a synonym for feeling depressed or hopeless: it indicates a potentially life-threatening concern involving deliberate self-harm and requires sensitive, responsible handling. It also appears in established expressions such as “suicidal thoughts,” “suicidal ideation,” and “suicidal impulse.” The adjective is formed from suicide, whose Latin roots mean “oneself” and “to kill.” Although “suicidal” can describe a state of mind, it may also be used more broadly to characterize conduct or circumstances involving an attempted or threatened self-killing. In reporting and care settings, the term should be distinguished carefully from other forms of self-harm, because suicide is specifically death or an act intended to cause death.
adjectiveRelating to or involving suicide. Describing a person who has thoughts of, intends, or may carry out suicide.
- Having an intention or strong inclination to commit suicide.
- Relating to suicide or to thoughts or behavior involving self-inflicted death.
"The patient disclosed suicidal thoughts and required immediate support from the clinical team."
"She was experiencing suicidal ideation and was admitted for urgent psychiatric care."
"The report described the circumstances as potentially suicidal but emphasized the need for further investigation."
The word “suicidal” comes from the same root as suicide, a compound built from Latin words meaning “oneself” and “to kill.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does suicidal come from?
The adjective suicidal was formed in English from suicide with the suffix -al, meaning “pertaining to.” The noun suicide comes through French from Latin suicidium, from suus (“one's own”) and caedere (“to kill”). The related English noun suicidality denotes the state or quality of being suicidal. The forms therefore reflect a long-established Latin vocabulary concerning killing oneself.
Related word forms
How suicidal is actually used
In clinical contexts, the term may refer to suicidal thoughts, intent, ideation, behavior, or a broader risk of self-harm. It should be used carefully and accurately rather than as a casual synonym for feeling hopeless.
Easily confused with suicidal
Suicide is the act of intentionally ending one's own life, while suicidal is an adjective describing thoughts, intentions, tendencies, or conduct related to that act.