psychiatrist
Americannoun
-
psychiatrists
plural
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of psychiatrist
First recorded in 1885–90; psychiatr(y) + -ist
Compare meaning
How does psychiatrist compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A psychiatrist is a doctor who specializes in emotional, behavioral, or mental disorders. Sigmund Freud is the founder of the field of psychiatry, pioneering psychoanalytic treatment. The noun psychiatrist has Greek roots in psykhe, meaning mind, and iatreia, meaning healing, so the word psychiatrist is literally one who heals the mind. As opposed to a psychologist, who also offers psychotherapy, a psychiatrist is a medical doctor and, as such, can prescribe medication for things like depression and anxiety.
Vocabulary lists containing psychiatrist
100 Great Words from "Fahrenheit 451" -- Part I Vocabulary
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Twelve Angry Men
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Body Language: Psych ("Mind")
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
The research was led by Jan Schmutz, a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Zurich, and Andrea Cantisani, a psychiatrist and research associate at the University of Bern.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 7, 2026
First developed in the 1950s by British psychiatrist John Bowlby, attachment theory suggests that the bonds we form with early caregivers shape our expectations of relationships.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
As a psychiatrist, he was mindful of the whole person who was suffering—not merely a disordered brain.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Last month a Saudi psychiatrist and anti-Islam activist, Taleb Jawad al-Abdulmohsen, was sentenced to life in prison for that attack.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
They often move through life with what Harvard psychiatrist Judith Lewis Herman calls a “contaminated identity.”
From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden
ProPublica reported that in January, the department had around 500 fewer psychologists and psychiatrists than it had at the same time last year.
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026
At least once a year, controllers must report all visits made to health professionals, including psychologists or psychiatrists, for treatment, exam or evaluation in the prior three years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026
According to the California Department of Health Care Access and Information, 55 of the state’s 58 counties faced shortages of psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and other roles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 6, 2026
"I've been treated by psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors and 12-steps rehab in Montreal, New York City, Toronto and Los Angeles," she said.
From Barron's ● Feb. 25, 2026
I also took written mental tests and had interviews with psychiatrists.
From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins
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.
