psychosis

[ sahy-koh-sis ]

/ saɪˈkoʊ sɪs /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR psychosis ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

Nearby words

psychoprophylaxis, psychosensory, psychosexual, psychosexual development, psychosexual dysfunction, psychosis, psychosocial, psychosociology, psychosomatic, psychosomatic disorder, psychosomatic medicine

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for psychosis

Fatigue, sadness, or psychosis is not about choice or laziness or selfishness.
Postpartum Stigma: Why My Patient Committed Suicide|Jean Kim|August 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The side effects from the dangerous cocktails of synthetics range from psychosis to death.
Is Synthetic Weed Feuling Yemen’s Terrorism?|Abby Haglage|May 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Some research suggests use can elevate the risk of psychosis in people already at risk.
Weed Gave My Family Everything—Then Took It Away|Abby Haglage|April 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There exists a sense of psychosis projected through his paintings, as if genetically passed down from his late grandfather.
A New Book Gives A Rare Glimpse Into The Life of Lucian Freud|Erin Cunningham|October 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST

I think that the firewall between depression and psychosis is going to be erased.
America’s Depression Diagnoses Epidemic and How to Fix It|Jesse Singal|March 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Among 40 cases, 27 offered some explanation either during or following the psychosis.
Benign Stupors|August Hoch
If you have a psychosis, you behave in response to delusions or hallucinations.
When You Don't Know Where to Turn|Steven J. Bartlett
The content of her psychosis, in addition to the praying attitude, had a more or less vague religious coloring.
Benign Stupors|August Hoch
There is, further, the history of a delusion of death during the onset of the psychosis.
Benign Stupors|August Hoch
On August 28 she gave a retrospective account of her psychosis, a part of which has been embodied in the history.
Benign Stupors|August Hoch

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

Medicine definitions for psychosis

psychosis

[ sī-kō′sĭs ]

n. pl. psy•cho•ses (-sēz)

A severe mental disorder, with or without organic damage, characterized by derangement of personality and loss of contact with reality and causing deterioration of normal social functioning.

Science 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.

Related forms

psychotic adjective (sī-kŏt′ĭk)

Culture 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.