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détraqué

nutcase, lunatic

noun adjective deh-trah-KEH Rare
Mind & Emotions Mental States

Also means

broken, on the fritz (as adjective)

Usage Note

Détraqué comes from the verb détraquer (to break, to put out of order), and retains both its noun sense ('a crazy person') and adjectival sense ('broken, malfunctioning'). The feminine form is détraquée. It is informal and mildly pejorative when applied to a person; more neutral when applied to a machine (ma montre est détraquée = 'my watch is broken').

Examples

"Ce détraqué a encore perturbé la réunion."

Natural Translation

That nutcase disrupted the meeting again.

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