psycho

¹

[ sahy-koh ]

noun

, plural psy·chos.

1. a psychopathic or psychotic person.
2. a crazy or mentally unstable person.

adjective

1. psychopathic or psychotic.
2. crazy; mentally unstable.

psycho-

²

1. a combining form representing psyche ( psychological ) and psychological ( psychoanalysis ) in compound words.

psycho-

¹

combining_form

1. indicating the mind or psychological or mental processes

   psychogenesis

   psychology

   psychosomatic

psycho

²

/ ˈsaɪkəʊ /

noun

1. an informal and offensive word for psychopath or psychopathic See psychopath

Word History and Origins

Origin of psycho¹

First recorded in 1935–40; by shortening

Origin of psycho²

< Greek, combining form of psȳchḗ breath, spirit, soul, mind; akin to psȳ́chein to blow ( psykter )

Word History and Origins

Origin of psycho¹

from Greek psukhē spirit, breath

Example Sentences

He also told the jury he was lying when he called his wife, Ms Batool, a “psycho” earlier in the trial.

From BBC

He regards himself as an artist, has lots of money, is well-connected in power circles and is withal the very model of a modern fictional psycho killer.

From Los Angeles Times

Then from there we landed on the psycho idea.

From Los Angeles Times

Other Berkey owners lightheartedly referred to their own water regimens as “ridiculous,” “insane” and even “psycho.”

From Los Angeles Times

"People started calling these young girls crazy, hysterical and psycho," the writer explains.

From BBC