psychic

American  

[sahy-kik] / ˈsaɪ kɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to the human soul or mind; mental.

2. Psychology. pertaining to or noting mental phenomena.

3. outside of natural or scientific knowledge; spiritual.

4. of or relating to some apparently nonphysical force or agency.

   psychic research;

   psychic phenomena.

5. sensitive to influences or forces of a nonphysical or supernatural nature.

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noun

• psychics
  plural

1. a person who is allegedly sensitive to psychic influences or forces; medium.

psychic British  

/ ˈsaɪkɪk /

adjective

1. 1. outside the possibilities defined by natural laws, as mental telepathy

   2. (of a person) sensitive to forces not recognized by natural laws

2. mental as opposed to physical; psychogenic

3. bridge (of a bid) based on less strength than would normally be required to make the bid

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noun

1. a person who is sensitive to parapsychological forces or influences

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• interpsychic
  adjective
• nonpsychic
  adjective
• nonpsychical
  adjective
• psychical
  adjective
• unpsychic
  adjective
• psychically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• psychics
  plural

Etymology

Origin of psychic

First recorded in 1855–60; from Greek psȳchikós “of the soul”; see Psyche, -ic

Explanation

A psychic reads minds and predicts the future. If you were a psychic, you wouldn't have bothered reading this because you would have known what I was going to say. Psychic can also describe something that has to do with your mind more than your body. You weren't physically harmed when your favorite team lost the championship game, but the psychic pain was considerable. Psychic comes from a Greek word meaning “breath” and “soul”: psychic matters are often felt but not seen.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

psychic psychics

“I soon learned that the previous bidder had been told by her psychic that the house was haunted and had just withdrawn from escrow,” he revealed.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026

“Harry’s psychic debt to Janet,” Mr. Jelly-Schapiro writes, “quickly grew deep,” and soon Jay Kennedy—a name the man had adopted years earlier, after leaving the Communist Party—became Belafonte’s domineering manager.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

“Sheep in the Box” suggests that, not long from now, these psychic wounds may be poked anew.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

Its key highlights were a meditation sanctuary, vegetarian restaurant and "psychic" readings, organised by the British Astrological Society and Psychic Society.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

Except that Arm, whose psychic abilities were developed far beyond those of ordinary folk, could feel the exact instant when it happened.

From "The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer

Social media is awash in content about the arcane: how-tos for spellcasting, psychics claiming to foretell the future and endless posts about casting out demons.

From Salon ● Apr. 1, 2026

This “customary affinity for the socially bizarre” — as the New York Times put it in a 1976 article on SoCal’s “flourishing” psychics — has been a curiosity for those who come from colder coasts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 8, 2025

He wanted to study high-functioning voice hearers, and a gathering of psychics seemed like a good place to find them.

From Salon ● Jun. 3, 2025

Documentary director Lana Wilson moves on from profiles of Taylor Swift and Brooke Shields to a handful of New York City psychics, themselves looking to bond.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 11, 2025

“Everybody in New York City knows they’re upset! And none of us are pet psychics, not even you!”

From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• mental
• metaphysical
• psychological
• spiritual
• supernatural