psychokinesis

American  

[sahy-koh-ki-nee-sis, -kahy-] / ˌsaɪ koʊ kɪˈni sɪs, -kaɪ- /

noun

1. the purported ability to move or deform inanimate objects, as metal spoons, through mental processes.

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psychokinesis British  

/ ˌsaɪkəʊkɪˈniːsɪs, -kaɪ-, ˌsaɪkəʊkɪˈnɛtɪk /

noun

1. (in parapsychology) alteration of the state of an object by mental influence alone, without any physical intervention

2. psychiatry a state of violent uncontrolled motor activity

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Other Word Forms

• psychokinetic adjective

Etymology

Origin of psychokinesis

First recorded in 1910–15; psycho- + -kinesis

Example Sentences

His acts - which he attributed to psychokinesis and telepathy - included bending spoons and keys, making clocks stop or run faster, and describing hidden drawings.

From BBC • Dec. 25, 2021

“All those who believe in psychokinesis, raise my right hand.”

From New York Times • Apr. 1, 2016

They were tested for four years by the laboratory staff and appeared to be able to perform the standard repertoire of psychic feats, including psychokinesis, telepathy and clairvoyance.

From The Guardian • Jun. 15, 2012

If the rats could anticipate the computer by E.S.P. or influence the decay of the radioactive source by psychokinesis, their pleasure score would exceed 50%.

From Time Magazine Archive

For decades, these schools, and other institutions, studied subjects as varied as precognition, telepathy, psychokinesis, energy fields, reincarnation, and mediumship.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock