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Definition of madhouse

madhouse

/ˈmædˌhaʊs/
mad · house
Plural:madhouses
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madhouse Lexical Profile

madhouse Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A place or scene of extreme confusion, noise, and chaotic activity.

Example

"The airport terminal was an absolute madhouse on the afternoon before the holiday."

2

An institution for the care and confinement of people with severe mental illness (now dated and offensive).

Example

"Several nineteenth-century novels depict the grim conditions inside a Victorian madhouse."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

While very common in informal conversation to describe a noisy, chaotic environment, using 'madhouse' literally to refer to a psychiatric hospital is dated and considered offensive in modern usage.

• Nearby Words

madeleine
mademoiselle
madge
madhouse
madia
madison
madly

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the late 17th century, formed as a compound of the English words 'mad' and 'house' to denote a facility for the confinement of people with mental illness.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Madhouse. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/madhouse
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