psyche

noun

psy·​che ˈsī-kē 

1

capitalized : a princess loved by Cupid

2

[Greek psychē]

a

: soul, personality

the nation's consumer psyche

—D. J. Kevles

b

: the totality of elements forming the mind (see mind entry 1 sense 2)

specifically, in Freudian psychoanalytic theory : the id, ego, and superego including both conscious and unconscious components

Did you know?

Sometime back in the 16th century, we borrowed the word psyche directly from Greek into English. In Greek mythology, Psyche was a beautiful princess who fell in love with Eros (Cupid), god of love, and went through terrible trials before being allowed to marry him. The story is often understood to be about the soul redeeming itself through love. (To the Greeks, psyche also meant "butterfly", which suggests how they imagined the soul.) In English, psyche often sounds less spiritual than soul, less intellectual than mind, and more private than personality.

Synonyms

• soul
• spirit

Examples of psyche in a Sentence

some hidden corner within your psyche

disturbing, enigmatic paintings that seem to embody the psyche of this brilliant but troubled artist

Recent Examples on the Web

Details This yardstick of shopper psyche comprises two factors — one eyeing today’s financial picture, the other tracking economic hopes. —Jonathan Lansner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2024

That’s how deeply embedded the film, directed by famed animator Don Bluth, and its characters are in the psyches of people who grew up in the late ’80s and early ’90s. —John Russell, Peoplemag, 4 June 2024

In her distinct voice, Kingston, who now lives in Brooklyn, extends an invitation to readers to delve into the psyche of a child coping with the unique challenges of her coming-of-age journey. —Britta Stromeyer, The Mercury News, 4 June 2024

Ian Baer, founder of marketing strategy platform Sooth, told Modern Retail this strategy better appeals to consumers’ psyche. —Fortune Editors, Fortune, 4 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek psychē soul

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

psyche

noun

psy·​che ˈsī-kē 

1

: soul entry 1 sense 2, self

2

: mind entry 1 sense 2

Medical Definition

psyche

noun

psy·​che ˈsī-(ˌ)kē 

: the specialized cognitive, conative, and affective aspects of a psychosomatic unity : mind

specifically : the totality of the id, ego, and superego including both conscious and unconscious components