psychic

American  

[sahy-kik] / ˈsaɪ kɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to the human soul or mind; mental.

2. Psychology. pertaining to or noting mental phenomena.

3. outside of natural or scientific knowledge; spiritual.

4. of or relating to some apparently nonphysical force or agency.

   psychic research;

   psychic phenomena.

5. sensitive to influences or forces of a nonphysical or supernatural nature.

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noun

1. a person who is allegedly sensitive to psychic influences or forces; medium.

psychic British  

/ ˈsaɪkɪk /

adjective

1. 1. outside the possibilities defined by natural laws, as mental telepathy

   2. (of a person) sensitive to forces not recognized by natural laws

2. mental as opposed to physical; psychogenic

3. bridge (of a bid) based on less strength than would normally be required to make the bid

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noun

1. a person who is sensitive to parapsychological forces or influences

Other Word Forms

• interpsychic adjective
• nonpsychic adjective
• nonpsychical adjective
• psychical adjective
• psychically adverb
• unpsychic adjective

Etymology

Origin of psychic

First recorded in 1855–60; from Greek psȳchikós “of the soul”; see Psyche, -ic

Explanation

A psychic reads minds and predicts the future. If you were a psychic, you wouldn't have bothered reading this because you would have known what I was going to say. Psychic can also describe something that has to do with your mind more than your body. You weren't physically harmed when your favorite team lost the championship game, but the psychic pain was considerable. Psychic comes from a Greek word meaning “breath” and “soul”: psychic matters are often felt but not seen.

Example Sentences

They consulted a psychic, who said that Cynthia’s body would be found near water.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

Ms. Duleba-Kasza’s Ola is a woebegone delight; one can sense the psychic miles Marcin has run up on her.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026

After almost 10 years, the Duffer brothers epic sci-fi series exploring psychic abilities, alternate universes, and so much more, will finally come to an end.

From BBC • Dec. 28, 2025

L’Belle-Tividad doesn’t refer to herself as a psychic.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2025

His theory was that the problems of many troubled patients rested in forgotten psychic traumas, and through free association and the interpretation of dreams the key to the problems could be unlocked.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Related Words

• mental
• metaphysical
• psychological
• spiritual
• supernatural