Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "hauka" yanayi ne na rashin lafiyar tabin hankali, ko kuma yanayin da hankalin mutum ya yi rauni sosai kuma halayensa ya fita waje da abin da al'umma ke tsammani. Ana iya siffanta hauka ta hanyar ruɗi, ruɗi, ruɗewar tunani da magana, matsanancin rashin kwanciyar hankali, da rashin fahimta ko sanin halin da mutum yake ciki. Kalmar “mahaukaci” kuma a wasu lokuta ana amfani da ita ba bisa ƙa'ida ba don kwatanta ɗabi'a mai tsananin wauta, rashin hankali, ko rashin hankali.