psychologist
Americannoun
-
psychologists
plural
-
a specialist in psychology.
-
Philosophy. an adherent to or advocate of psychologism.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of psychologist
First recorded in 1720–30; psycholog(y) + -ist
Compare meaning
How does psychologist compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A psychologist is a scientist who studies the mind. Unless specified, you should assume the psychologist studies the human mind — as opposed to, for example, a pet psychologist. A psychologist can be a researcher, who makes abstract studies of mental disorders and their treatments. Or, a psychologist can be licensed to see and treat patients, offering therapy for mental conditions or behavioral issues. The word comes from two Latin root, psyche, meaning "soul, mind, and spirit," and logia, meaning "the study of." Unlike a psychiatrist, a psychologist does not have a medical degree, and therefore cannot prescribe medication.
Vocabulary lists containing psychologist
Wonder Woman's Superpower Words
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!
Dear Martin
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!
Booked
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:
"Sometimes I don't recognize my country," the retired psychologist said quietly.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
He had a 90-minute video call with a school psychologist who discussed her work, but didn’t allow him to shadow her.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
The actor shared a spiritual message from author and psychologist Gerry Hussey through Instagram Stories.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
Slate’s Nitish Pahwa talked to psychologist and MIT professor Sherry Turkle about how “modern technology is scrambling our ability to live in the real world”—and what we can do about it.
From Slate ● Sep. 30, 2026
She’s a clinical psychologist, so reassurance is second nature to her.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
Here are other big trends that psychologists, sociologists and other experts believe are driving the estrangement crisis.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026
They plan to keep them free and eventually share the data with neuroscientists and psychologists.
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
There’s a lack of programs — we need more therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists and doctors who are versed in helping people who are deaf.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
“VA psychologists are best in class,” said Russell Lemle, former chief psychologist for the San Francisco VA Health Care System and now a senior policy analyst at the Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute.
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026
The transcripts — 122 in all — were then analyzed by a group of linguists and psychologists led by Katherine Nelson of Harvard University.
From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
