psychosis

[sahy-koh-sis]

noun

Psychiatry.

plural

psychoses 

1. a mental disorder characterized by symptoms, such as delusions or hallucinations, that indicate impaired contact with reality.

2. any severe form of mental disorder, as schizophrenia or paranoia.

psychosis

/ saɪˈkəʊsɪs /

noun

1. any form of severe mental disorder in which the individual's contact with reality becomes highly distorted Compare neurosis

psychosis

plural

psychoses 

1. 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.

psychosis

1. 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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of psychosis¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of psychosis¹

C19: New Latin, from _psycho- + _-osis

Example Sentences

Unlike Ari Aster’s “Eddington,” which spent far too much time telling the viewer exactly what they already knew about our postmodern psychosis, Anderson grapples with not just what humanity is, but what it can become.

From Salon

He was diagnosed with a "drug induced psychosis or drug induced depressive psychosis".

From BBC

Clinicians also warn of "AI psychosis" - where someone loses touch with reality after intense use of chatbots.

From BBC

Because it shows up so much earlier than other dementias, its initial symptoms are often mistaken for other conditions: depression, perimenopause, Parkinson’s disease, psychosis.

From Los Angeles Times

The defendant was a frequent user of cannabis which exacerbated her symptoms but did not cause her psychosis, according to psychiatrists, the judge said.

From BBC

Related Words

• absurdity 
• alienation 
• craziness 
• folly 
• frenzy 
• hysteria 
• irresponsibility www.thesaurus.com
• lunacy 
• madness 
• mental disorder