psychosomatic
Americanadjective
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of or relating to a physical disorder that is caused by or notably influenced by emotional factors.
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pertaining to or involving both the mind and the body.
adjective
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“Psychosomatic” disorders have definite physical symptoms but are thought to be caused by emotional or psychological factors. Anorexia nervosa is an example of a psychosomatic illness.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of psychosomatic
Explanation
Psychosomatic describes a physical illness that results at least in part from mental causes. If you are under a lot of stress, the strain can trigger a psychosomatic condition like a stomach ulcer. Have you heard of the mind-body connection? That if you enjoy mental well-being you will also likely have good physical health — and vice versa? Psychosomatic originally used to describe the relationship between the body and the mind, and it comes from the merging of two Greek words, psykhe, mind, and somatikos, "body." A psychosomatic illness is triggered or made worse by a mental issue; the body gets worn down by things like constant worry and stress.
Vocabulary lists containing psychosomatic
Body Language: Psych ("Mind")
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2015 Spelling Bee - Words from Round 3
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A Confederacy of Dunces
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
FND is a complex condition; previously known as psychosomatic or psychogenic illness, it describes physical symptoms with a psychological root.
From BBC • Jan. 10, 2026
Looking back, the stutter seemed to have been psychosomatic.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 16, 2025
O’Sullivan determined that Darcie was suffering psychosomatic seizures and faints, very real but not caused by a physical problem.
From Salon • May 13, 2025
It just felt very much akin to my breathing, and it felt psychosomatic in many ways.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 26, 2023
Billy had powerful psychosomatic responses to the changing chords.
From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
