psychologist

American  

[sahy-kol-uh-jist] / saɪˈkɒl ə dʒɪst /

noun

• psychologists
  plural

1. a specialist in psychology.

2. Philosophy. an adherent to or advocate of psychologism.

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adjective

1. Also psychologistic. of or relating to psychologism.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• psychologists
  plural

Etymology

Origin of psychologist

First recorded in 1720–30; psycholog(y) + -ist

Compare meaning

How does psychologist compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• psychologist vs. therapist
• psychologist vs. psychiatrist

Explanation

A psychologist is a scientist who studies the mind. Unless specified, you should assume the psychologist studies the human mind — as opposed to, for example, a pet psychologist. A psychologist can be a researcher, who makes abstract studies of mental disorders and their treatments. Or, a psychologist can be licensed to see and treat patients, offering therapy for mental conditions or behavioral issues. The word comes from two Latin root, psyche, meaning "soul, mind, and spirit," and logia, meaning "the study of." Unlike a psychiatrist, a psychologist does not have a medical degree, and therefore cannot prescribe medication.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

psychologist psychologists

Another, also in his 20s, said he was promised trauma counselling but only had two sessions with a psychologist.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

A psychologist who worked for a VA in Arizona recounted how some of her one-on-one sessions were replaced with online group sessions that included as many as 35 veterans.

From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026

As the psychologist Daniel Kahneman told me years ago, “Luck and randomness are the likeliest—but least satisfying—explanations for extreme outcomes. Ordinary causes feel insufficient to explain extraordinary results.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

The judge said the defense psychologist and doctor relied on Lavie’s accounts, but there was little documentation to support her mental health claims and back her allegations of abuse and violence.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

And then the psychologist raised her head, “Well?”

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov

ProPublica reported that in January, the department had around 500 fewer psychologists and psychiatrists than it had at the same time last year.

From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026

Several psychologists were available to consult with grieving children under the care of their parents, an AFP journalist saw.

From Barron's ● Aug. 9, 2026

The teachers union contract approved in June adds more than 450 new positions, including attendance counselors, psychiatric social workers, school psychologists, and other counselors.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

"I'd used sports psychologists before and always tried to be positive and optimistic, but I started working with someone at Wigan who hadn't worked in football before," said Keane.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

When psychologists actually try to verify this claim, however, their answers sound like the Hartshorne and May conclusions.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• adviser
• analyst
• clinician
• doctor
• physician
• psychiatrist
• psychoanalyst
• psychotherapist