psychological

adjective

psy·​cho·​log·​i·​cal ˌsī-kə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

variants or less commonly psychologic

ˌsī-kə-ˈlä-jik 

1

a

: of or relating to psychology

psychological research

b

: of, relating to, or occurring in the mind : mental

psychological distress

psychological disorders

2

: directed toward, influencing, or acting on the mind especially in relation to an individual's willpower or behavioral motivation

psychological warfare

psychological strategies

psychologically

ˌsī-kə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Since losing its Winston Cup [NASCAR] races, the town of North Wilkesboro has suffered economically and psychologically.

—Derek H. Alderman et al.

To gas light is to psychologically manipulate a person to the point where they question their own sanity …

—Lauren Duca

Synonyms

• cerebral
• inner
• intellectual
• interior
• internal
• mental

Examples of psychological in a Sentence

a psychological rather than a physical condition

suffered from psychological disorders all of his life

Recent Examples on the Web

The answer lies in psychological safety—an environment where individuals feel free to speak up, share unconventional ideas, and make mistakes without fear of judgment. —Amy Blankson, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025

Deadline has the first trio of stills from Hallow Road, the new psychological thriller from BAFTA winner Babak Anvari (Under the Shadow), which stars Golden Globe and Emmy winner Rosamund Pike (Saltburn) and Emmy winner Matthew Rhys (Saturday Night). —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2025

Her walks in the Swiss wilderness help fulfill her appetite for nature’s mysterious ways, but a home life with animals lays the path to her enigmatic sculptures—psychological interpretations of living creatures. —airmail.news, 11 Jan. 2025

Hari uses the example of how mothers in the 1970s rallied together to push back against the lead industry, which for decades had knowingly caused mental and psychological problems in children. —Rebecca Jennings, Vox, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1787, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing psychological

• psychological moment
• psychological warfare

Kids Definition

psychological

adjective

psy·​cho·​log·​i·​cal ˌsī-kə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

variants also psychologic

-ˈläj-ik 

1

a

: of or relating to psychology

psychological research

b

: of, relating to, or occurring in the mind : mental

psychological distress

psychological disorders

2

: meant to influence the will or mind

psychological warfare

psychologically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

psychological

adjective

psy·​cho·​log·​i·​cal ˌsī-kə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

variants also psychologic

-ik 

1

a

: relating to, characteristic of, directed toward, influencing, arising in, or acting through the mind especially in its affective or cognitive functions

psychological phenomena

the psychological aspects of a problem

b

: directed toward, influencing, or acting on the mind especially in relation to an individual's willpower or behavioral motivation

psychological warfare

2

: relating to, concerned with, deriving from, or used in psychology

psychological research

psychological tests

a psychological clinic

psychologically

-ē

adverb