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

“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

But when they hit, and they always do, it’s a psychic whallop.

From Salon ● Jun. 18, 2026

Now I’m walking with a psychic to the house of a boy I don’t know so I can find out if he’s missing or not.

From "Hello, Universe" by Erin Entrada Kelly

From musty star maps to ratty psychics, the movie so adores Los Angeles that Thomas Lennon’s hair stylist character is a riff on local billboard king Chaz Dean.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

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

At the risk of perpetuating a silly cliche, it’s not uncommon to hear people in Los Angeles refer to their psychics or mediums as casually as they refer to their therapists or masseuses.

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

I know psychics focus on the future, but I don’t care about my future.

From "Hello, Universe" by Erin Entrada Kelly

Related Words

• mental
• metaphysical
• psychological
• spiritual
• supernatural