psychological
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to psychology.
-
pertaining to the mind or to mental phenomena as the subject matter of psychology.
-
of, pertaining to, dealing with, or affecting the mind, especially as a function of awareness, feeling, or motivation.
psychological play;
psychological effect.
adjective
-
of or relating to psychology
-
of or relating to the mind or mental activity
-
having no real or objective basis; arising in the mind
his backaches are all psychological
-
affecting the mind
Other Word Forms
- nonpsychologic adjective
- nonpsychological adjective
- prepsychological adjective
- pseudopsychological adjective
- psychologically adverb
- semipsychologic adjective
- semipsychological adjective
- unpsychological adjective
Etymology
Origin of psychological
First recorded in 1785–95; psycholog(y) + -ical
Compare meaning
How does psychological compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The difference between $3.98 per gallon and $4.02 per gallon is minimal in practice, but the jump is a bit of a psychological barrier for consumers that could weigh on optimism and spending.
From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026
These measures, enacted by more than half the states, shielded children from a discredited and abusive practice that fails to achieve its aims while inflicting serious, lasting psychological harms.
From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026
Burden has been surprised by the overwhelming resonance of her book, and the universality of the emotional and psychological pain she endured in her marriage.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026
The couple were impressed, they say, by the range of anonymous donors who had undergone "comprehensive health screenings" and psychological examinations.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
I remember the disclaimer in Ama’s pamphlet—that the abosom take no responsibility for psychological trauma or physical injury that may come from a visit to the Eloko.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
