psychosis

noun

psy·​cho·​sis sī-ˈkō-səs How to pronounce psychosis (audio)
plural psychoses sī-ˈkō-ˌsēz How to pronounce psychosis (audio)
: a serious mental illness (such as schizophrenia) characterized by defective or lost contact with reality often with hallucinations or delusions

Examples of psychosis in a Sentence

The patient suffers from some kind of psychosis.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The novel’s dark genius is in treating Bateman’s bespoke consumerism as the deeper psychosis. Alexander Nazaryan, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025 Psychological assessments conducted by Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 2019 and 2021 concluded Hale wasn't suffering from psychosis and recommended outpatient treatment. Arkansas Online, 3 Apr. 2025 Although significantly less common than other perinatal mood disorders, postpartum psychosis is a medical emergency that all women of childbearing age should be aware of. Kaitlyn May, Hartford Courant, 3 Apr. 2025 On the one hand, a possible side effect of benzo withdrawal is psychosis. Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for psychosis

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of psychosis was in 1847

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Psychosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychosis. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

psychosis

noun
psy·​cho·​sis sī-ˈkō-səs How to pronounce psychosis (audio)
plural psychoses -ˈkō-ˌsēz How to pronounce psychosis (audio)
: a serious mental illness marked by loss of or greatly lessened ability to test whether what one is thinking and feeling about the real world is really true

Medical Definition

psychosis

noun
psy·​cho·​sis sī-ˈkō-səs How to pronounce psychosis (audio)
plural psychoses -ˌsēz How to pronounce psychosis (audio)
: a serious mental illness (as schizophrenia) characterized by defective or lost contact with reality often with hallucinations or delusions
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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