psychosis

[ sahy-koh-sis ]

/ saɪˈkoʊ sɪs /

Save This Word!

See 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.

COMPARE MEANINGS

Click for a side-by-side comparison of meanings. Use the word comparison feature to learn the differences between similar and commonly confused words.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of psychosis

First recorded in 1840–50, psychosis is from the Late Greek word psȳ́chōsis animation, principle of life. See psych-, -osis

Words nearby psychosis

psychophysiologic disorder, psychophysiology, psychopomp, psychoprophylaxis, psychosexual, psychosis, psychosocial, psychosociology, psychosomatic, psychosurgery, psychosynthesis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use psychosis in a sentence

Earlier this year, Gross got a call about a woman who had recently given birth at the hospital and then turned up at an emergency room an hour and a half away with full-blown postpartum psychosis.
Pregnant in the pandemic? It helps to have good Wi-Fi.|Cat Ferguson|December 14, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Schizophrenia, a common form of psychosis, tends to develop in the late teens to early 20s for men and the late 20s to early 30s for women—but a preliminary stage with milder symptoms usually precedes the full-blown condition.
Machines can spot mental health issues—if you hand over your personal data|Bobbie Johnson|August 13, 2020|MIT Technology Review
When psychiatrists meet people in the prodromal phase, they use a standard set of interviews and cognitive tests to predict which will go on to develop psychosis.
Machines can spot mental health issues—if you hand over your personal data|Bobbie Johnson|August 13, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Her research showed that the way we speak and write can reveal early indications of psychosis, and that computers can help us spot those signs with unnerving accuracy.
Machines can spot mental health issues—if you hand over your personal data|Bobbie Johnson|August 13, 2020|MIT Technology Review

Strokes, confusion and psychosis were found among a group of 125 people hospitalized with infections of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus behind the pandemic.
Strokes and mental state changes hint at how COVID-19 harms the brain|Laura Sanders|June 25, 2020|Science News
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
A court-appointed doctor later concluded that Mindi had experienced postpartum psychosis.
One Breakdown Can Mean Losing Your Kid Forever|ProPublica|May 30, 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
The synthetic cannabinoids sprayed on Spice can lead to severe psychosis, brain damage, strokes, or even death.
How Pfizer Helped Make ‘Spice,’ The Deadly Fake Pot|Abby Haglage|May 17, 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
When this occurs the person merges into a psychosis which may be called "hallucinatory confusion."
The Behavior of Crowds|Everett Dean Martin
I learned of this notable psychosis from a bookkeeper of a large factory, who had to provide for the test of numberless additions.
Criminal Psychology|Hans Gross
A little skin disorder, Selznik's migraine, and a few cases of psychosis to make a new disease.
Badge of Infamy|Lester del Rey
This continuing presence of the weird in literature shows the popular demand for it and must have some basis in human psychosis.
The Supernatural in Modern English Fiction|Dorothy Scarborough
After this occurs precordial anxiety, and finally the psychosis proper consisting of three stages: 1.
Degeneracy|Eugene S. Talbot

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)

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.

psychosis

COMPARE MEANINGS

Origin of psychosis

Words nearby psychosis

Words related to psychosis

How to use psychosis in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for psychosis

Word Origin for psychosis

Scientific definitions for psychosis

Other words from psychosis

Cultural definitions for psychosis