Goldwater rule

proper noun

A section of the American Psychiatric Association's code of ethics, stating that it is unethical for a psychiatrist to give a professional opinion about a public figure they have not examined in person, and whose mental health they have not received consent to discuss.

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Meanings

proper noun
  1. A section of the American Psychiatric Association's code of ethics, stating that it is unethical for a psychiatrist to give a professional opinion about a public figure they have not examined in person, and whose mental health they have not received consent to discuss.

Origin

Named after US presidential candidate Barry Goldwater, who successfully sued for libel over a 1964 article that polled psychiatrists on his fitness for presidency.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Goldwater rule. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Goldwater%20rule

MLA

“Goldwater rule.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Goldwater%20rule. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Goldwater rule,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Goldwater%20rule.

Source: Goldwater rule on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.