psychoanalytic

American  

[sahy-koh-an-l-it-ik] / ˌsaɪ koʊˌæn lˈɪt ɪk /

Also psychoanalytical

adjective

1. involving or using psychoanalysis, a system of theories concerning the relationship between conscious and unconscious psychological processes.

   This course covers many different methodologies, including sociological, psychoanalytic, and ethnographic approaches to literary criticism.

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Other Word Forms

• nonpsychoanalytic
  adjective
• nonpsychoanalytical
  adjective
• nonpsychoanalytically
  adverb
• postpsychoanalytic
  adjective
• psychoanalytically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of psychoanalytic

psycho- ( def. ) + analytic ( def. )

Explanation

When you're describing a type of long-term therapy that focuses on the unconscious mind, use the adjective psychoanalytic. The original psychoanalytic practitioner was Sigmund Freud, who developed the theory known as psychoanalysis in the 1890s. A therapist who uses psychoanalytic methods might help you interpret your dreams and explore forgotten childhood events in order to find the unconscious source of your anxious feelings. Psychoanalytic theory is employed outside of psychology, too — it's been used to analyze things like literature and art. Psychoanalytic is rooted in the Greek psykhē, "the soul, mind, or spirit."

Example Sentences

I pursued psychoanalytic training for 10 years at NYU, where I now teach.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

“At my graduation from psychoanalytic training, a supervising analyst said to me, ‘Your analysis will cure you of the need to do research.’”

From New York Times • May 16, 2023

She scaled back her private psychoanalytic practice, and she embraced this scientific approach to addiction.

From Scientific American • Apr. 20, 2023

"Evil" is not a psychoanalytic term, but that was his affect in the moment.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2023

In terms of psychoanalytic theory, it had very little to do with the human mind.

From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok