maniac

Maniac is a term with several uses in language and culture. It can describe a person who is fanatically enthusiastic, or, in a medical context, someone experiencing mania, a heightened mental state associated with mood elevation, increased activity, and impaired judgment. The word derives from the Greek mania meaning madness, with the suffix -iac.

In clinical settings, mania refers to a distinct phase of bipolar disorder and related conditions. The term maniac is generally informal or pejorative and is avoided in professional psychiatry in favor of "manic" or "manic episode."

Maniac has been used as a title for several works. Notably, Maniac (1980) is an American slasher film directed by William Lustig. Maniac (2018) is a Netflix limited series created by Cary Joji Fukunaga and Patrick Somerville, featuring Emma Stone and Jonah Hill in lead roles; the series is not a direct adaptation of the film.

In music, "Maniac" is a 1983 song by Michael Sembello from the film Flashdance, known for its energetic tempo and distinctive keyboard riffs.

See also mania, manic.