non compos mentis
Of unsound mind
Non compos mentis is a Latin legal term meaning "not of sound mind." It describes someone who lacks the mental capacity to manage their own affairs, make valid contracts, or stand trial.
The phrase appears in legal contexts where mental competency matters: The court found the defendant non compos mentis and unfit to proceed.
In casual use, it can humorously describe someone acting crazy or out of it.
Extreme irrational foolishness
- madnessMental derangement or folly
- insanitySevere mental illness
- derangementDisturbed mental state
- unsoundWeak or flawed
bedlam · asylum · lunatic · alienist · moonstruck · raving · unhinged · distracted
Severe reality detachment
- schizophreniaPsychotic disorder with delusions
- delusionalHolding false beliefs firmly
- hallucinationsPerceptions without external cause
- dementiaChronic cognitive impairment
delirium · bipolar · mania · paranoia · dissociation · catatonia · cognitive impairment · Alzheimer's
Legal care of another
- conservatorshipCourt-appointed care management
- testamentaryOf or concerning wills
- contractualRelating to formal agreements
- unsound mindMental incapacity for decisions
adjudication · mental capacity · insanity defense · committal · ward · fiduciary · power of attorney · lucid interval
Mental disorientation or bewilderment
- disorientationLoss of spatial awareness
- incoherenceFailure to make sense
- stuporSuspended sensibility
- unconsciousnessComplete lack of awareness
inebriation · intoxication · delirium tremens · altered state · unresponsive · stupefaction · impairment · debility
lunacy
Extreme irrational foolishness
- madnessMental derangement or folly
- insanitySevere mental illness
- derangementDisturbed mental state
unsound · bedlam · asylum · lunatic · alienist · moonstruck · raving · unhinged · distracted · out of one's mind
psychosis
Severe reality detachment
- schizophreniaPsychotic disorder with delusions
- delusionalHolding false beliefs firmly
- hallucinationsPerceptions without external cause
dementia · delirium · bipolar · mania · paranoia · dissociation · catatonia · cognitive impairment · Alzheimer's · neurodegenerative
guardianship
Legal care of another
- conservatorshipCourt-appointed care management
- testamentaryOf or concerning wills
- contractualRelating to formal agreements
unsound mind · adjudication · mental capacity · insanity defense · committal · ward · fiduciary · power of attorney · lucid interval · mental competence
confusion
Mental disorientation or bewilderment
- disorientationLoss of spatial awareness
- incoherenceFailure to make sense
- stuporSuspended sensibility
unconsciousness · inebriation · intoxication · delirium tremens · altered state · unresponsive · stupefaction · impairment · debility · infirmity
- legal capacitylegal capacity, mental capacity, capacity, competence, competency
- criminal defensesinsanity plea, insanity defense, legal insanity, diminished capacity, irresistible impulse
non compos mentiscompos mentis
Mentally competent, legally speaking
of sound mind · sane · competent · in one's right mind · rational
non compos mentislucid
Mentally sharp and comprehensible
compos mentis · clear-headed · clearheaded · sharp · alert
composure, incompetent, incapacity, incompetence, compos mentis