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
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Twelve Angry Men
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Body Language: Psych ("Mind")
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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.
See Examples For:
At the show, she met a psychiatrist who advised her to go and work abroad -- an idea that appealed to her.
From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026
"As a victim, I have to prove the impact, go to a psychiatrist, write specific notes," she says.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
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
But there’d been a change of plans, Kaye explained, because the defendant had been taking his meds and the psychiatrist reported great progress.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
“Sit down now!” commanded the psychiatrist strictly and, very slowly, the man did.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
One day in the courtroom grew particularly heated as one of Clancy's psychiatrists, Jennifer Tufts, testified for the prosecution that Clancy did not show signs of psychosis during their sessions.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
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
Tan, who said alleged possessions are often accompanied by symptoms of psychosis, insisted Philippine psychiatrists were not seeking to "compete with the Catholic Church", but rather to bridge the gap between culture and science.
From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026
His website details working with psychologists and psychiatrists to craft diversion programs and treatment plans for “justice-involved people with mental illness.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026
I could tell he was eager to avoid any mention of psychiatrists or dead grandfathers.
From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs
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.
