hypnosis

American  

[hip-noh-sis] / hɪpˈnoʊ sɪs /

noun

plural

hypnoses

1. an artificially induced trance state resembling sleep, characterized by heightened susceptibility to suggestion.

2. hypnotism.

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hypnosis British  

/ hɪpˈnəʊsɪs /

noun

1. an artificially induced state of relaxation and concentration in which deeper parts of the mind become more accessible: used clinically to reduce reaction to pain, to encourage free association, etc See also autohypnosis

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hypnosis Scientific  

/ hĭp-nō′sĭs /

1. A trancelike state resembling sleep, usually induced by a therapist by focusing a subject's attention, that heightens the subject's receptivity to suggestion. The uses of hypnosis in medicine and psychology include recovering repressed memories, modifying or eliminating undesirable behavior (such as smoking), and treating certain chronic disorders, such as anxiety.

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hypnosis Cultural  

1. Placing persons in a drowsy, sleeplike state in which they allegedly become vulnerable to the suggestions made by the hypnotist. Hypnosis may also be used to tap into the unconscious and is often characterized by vivid recall of memories and fantasies. These properties make hypnosis a useful tool in psychotherapy. Hypnosis also has sinister implications, for subjects may be manipulated to perform embarrassing actions or be susceptible to carrying out the hypnotist's commands after the hypnosis session (posthypnotic suggestion).

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Etymology

Origin of hypnosis

First recorded in 1875–80; hypn(otic) + -osis

Explanation

Hypnosis is a trance-like state induced by a hypnotist in which the subject becomes highly open to suggestions by others. In movies, hypnosis usually starts with the phrase, "You are feeling very sleepy..." Thanks to a million bad TV shows and stage hypnotists — "look into my eyes, you are feeling sleepy..." — we tend to think of hypnosis as making its unfortunate subjects think they're birds and run around flapping their arms for our amusement. In fact, modern day hypnosis is more commonly used by therapists to help people modify undesirable behaviors such as smoking or anxiety. Helpful, if not as much fun.

Example Sentences

During her hypnosis, the police asked her if one of the men she had seen had short, shaved hair.

From Slate • Feb. 13, 2026

Some of the messages mentioned hypnosis sessions and offered to tell Amelie her "memories", prosecutor Nadia Silver said.

From Barron's • Oct. 9, 2025

Audiences had to liberate a cadre of musicians from hypnosis and do so by concocting scenarios in which the club’s proprietor was continually forced to leave the room.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2025

As a student, he watched a hypnosis show, which ultimately inspired him to embark on his own career in magic.

From BBC • Jan. 16, 2025

Karhidish psychologists, though lacking mindspeech and thus like, blind surgeons, were ingenious with drugs, hypnosis, spotshock, cryonic touch, and various mental therapies; I asked if these two psychopaths could not be cured.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Related Words

• coma
• slumber
• trance