Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

madhouse

noun

/ˈmædhaʊs/

Definition

A place that is chaotic or wildly disorganized, often used informally to describe an environment filled with confusion and noise.

Examples

The birthday party turned into a madhouse when everyone started dancing.
During the holiday season, the shopping mall becomes a madhouse with crowds of people.
Trying to organize a team meeting in that madhouse was nearly impossible!

Meaning

The term ‘madhouse’ generally refers to a place that feels extremely chaotic, similar to how one might imagine a mental institution filled with overwhelmed patients. In a more general sense, it is used to describe any situation or location that is noisy and out of control.