psychological
Americanadjective
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of or relating to psychology.
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pertaining to the mind or to mental phenomena as the subject matter of psychology.
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of, pertaining to, dealing with, or affecting the mind, especially as a function of awareness, feeling, or motivation.
psychological play;
psychological effect.
adjective
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of or relating to psychology
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of or relating to the mind or mental activity
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having no real or objective basis; arising in the mind
his backaches are all psychological
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affecting the mind
Other Word Forms
- nonpsychologic adjective
- nonpsychological adjective
- prepsychological adjective
- pseudopsychological adjective
- psychologically adverb
- semipsychologic adjective
- semipsychological adjective
- unpsychological adjective
Etymology
Origin of psychological
First recorded in 1785–95; psycholog(y) + -ical
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The difference between $3.98 per gallon and $4.02 per gallon is minimal in practice, but the jump is a bit of a psychological barrier for consumers that could weigh on optimism and spending.
From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026
These measures, enacted by more than half the states, shielded children from a discredited and abusive practice that fails to achieve its aims while inflicting serious, lasting psychological harms.
From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026
The $4-a-gallon level will likely have a psychological effect on consumers, with ever-rising gas prices likely forcing some households to drive — and consume — less.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 29, 2026
"The psychological impact, as well as the physical effects, is huge," says Dr Ahmed, who is a member of the British Association of Dermatologists.
From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026
Then as now, pseudoscientific beliefs were not limited to the uneducated, and the belief that various psychological and mental attributes were discernible by examining the bumps and contours of one’s head was widespread.
From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
