psychosomatic

American  

[sahy-koh-suh-mat-ik, -soh-] / ˌsaɪ koʊ səˈmæt ɪk, -soʊ- /

adjective

1. of or relating to a physical disorder that is caused by or notably influenced by emotional factors.

2. pertaining to or involving both the mind and the body.

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psychosomatic British  

/ ˌsaɪkəʊsəˈmætɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to disorders, such as stomach ulcers, thought to be caused or aggravated by psychological factors such as stress

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psychosomatic Cultural  

1. A descriptive term for the relationship between the mind and body.

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Discover More

“Psychosomatic” disorders have definite physical symptoms but are thought to be caused by emotional or psychological factors. Anorexia nervosa is an example of a psychosomatic illness.

Other Word Forms

• psychosomatically adverb

Etymology

Origin of psychosomatic

First recorded in 1860–65; psycho- + somatic

Explanation

Psychosomatic describes a physical illness that results at least in part from mental causes. If you are under a lot of stress, the strain can trigger a psychosomatic condition like a stomach ulcer. Have you heard of the mind-body connection? That if you enjoy mental well-being you will also likely have good physical health — and vice versa? Psychosomatic originally used to describe the relationship between the body and the mind, and it comes from the merging of two Greek words, psykhe, mind, and somatikos, "body." A psychosomatic illness is triggered or made worse by a mental issue; the body gets worn down by things like constant worry and stress.

Example Sentences

FND is a complex condition; previously known as psychosomatic or psychogenic illness, it describes physical symptoms with a psychological root.

From BBC • Jan. 10, 2026

Looking back, the stutter seemed to have been psychosomatic.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 16, 2025

Investigations into it halted when the doctor told my dad—not me—that she thought the pain was purely psychosomatic.

From Slate • Jul. 26, 2025

“So he would play differently, it became psychosomatic at that point that, ‘Wow, I don’t want to let my team down,’ and … he kept saying, ‘No, I’m going to get through it.’

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2025

I'm afraid—from what I know about clinical cases like yours—that you may end up a psychosomatic invalid like Elizabeth B. Browning.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole