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

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

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

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

They consulted a psychic, who said that Cynthia’s body would be found near water.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

I’m a really instinctual person and I get feelings — I feel like I’m a little psychic.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

We’ll have robot cars, robocops, terminators and a fully functioning Skynet that grades social status from Instagram likes—unless we’re all entombed Matrix-like in pods wearing Neurolinks to capture our psychic energy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 22, 2026

Cake, it turns out, carries a lot of psychic weight.

From Salon • Feb. 3, 2026

A way to help Abby talk to Zachary, because—you didn’t have to be a human psychic to know it—that was what both of them wanted.

From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• mental
• metaphysical
• psychological
• spiritual
• supernatural