derangement

Part of Speech

Noun

Pronunciation

/dɪˈreɪndʒmənt/ (American & British English)

Definitions

1. A state of mental instability or insanity.
2. A disorderly or chaotic condition.
3. Displacement or disarrangement of something from its normal position.

Usage Examples

• The patient's derangement was evident in his erratic behavior.
• There was a complete derangement of the city's transport system after the accident.
• The doctor diagnosed him with a severe mental derangement.

Etymology

Derived from French "déranger," meaning "to disturb or disarrange," from "de-" (apart) + "ranger" (to arrange). First recorded in English in the late 18th century.

Synonyms

• Insanity
• Disorder
• Disarray
• Confusion
• Disruption

Antonyms

• Sanity
• Order
• Stability
• Harmony

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• American English: /dɪˈreɪndʒmənt/
• British English: /dɪˈreɪndʒmənt/
• French: /de.ʁɑ̃ʒ.mɑ̃/

Historical Usage

The term "derangement" has been historically associated with mental health disorders. In medical contexts, it was once widely used to describe mental instability before modern psychological terminology replaced it. It has also been applied metaphorically to describe societal, political, and economic chaos.

Cultural Nuances

In literature and media, "derangement" is often linked to extreme mental instability, particularly in Gothic and horror fiction. In modern usage, it can describe both psychological conditions and general disarray in any system.

More Information

Derangement is used across various fields, including psychology, physics (to describe disordered systems), and medicine. The term remains relevant in both formal and informal discourse, signifying states of disorder or instability.