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psychosis

[ sahy-koh-sis ]
/ saɪˈkoʊ sɪs /
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noun, plural psy·cho·ses [-seez]. /-siz/. Psychiatry.
a mental disorder characterized by symptoms, such as delusions or hallucinations, that indicate impaired contact with reality.
any severe form of mental disorder, as schizophrenia or paranoia.
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Origin of psychosis

First recorded in 1840–50, psychosis is from the Late Greek word psȳ́chōsis animation, principle of life. See psych-, -osis
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to psychosis

insanity, lunacy, madness, absurdity, alienation, craziness, folly, frenzy, hysteria, irresponsibility, mental disorder, foolishness, idiocy, mania, silliness, stupidity, delusion, mental illness, personality disorder, schizophrenia

How to use psychosis in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for psychosis

psychosis
/ (saɪˈkəʊsɪs) /
noun plural -choses (-ˈkəʊsiːz)
any form of severe mental disorder in which the individual's contact with reality becomes highly distortedCompare neurosis

Word Origin for psychosis

C19: New Latin, from psycho- + -osis
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for psychosis

psychosis
[ sī-kō′sĭs ]
Plural psychoses (sī-kō′sēz)
A mental state caused by psychiatric or organic illness, characterized by a loss of contact with reality and an inability to think rationally. A psychotic person often behaves inappropriately and is incapable of normal social functioning.

Other words from psychosis

psychotic adjective (sī-kŏt′ĭk)
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for psychosis

psychosis
[ (seye-koh-sis) ]

A severe mental disorder, more serious than neurosis, characterized by disorganized thought processes, disorientation in time and space, hallucinations, and delusions. Paranoia, manic depression, megalomania, and schizophrenia are all psychoses. One who suffers from psychosis is psychotic.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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