psychosis

noun

psy·​cho·​sis sī-ˈkō-səs 

plural psychoses sī-ˈkō-ˌsēz 

: 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

While the drug did come up slightly short of expectations, the real test, and next major catalyst for the stock, will be its trial data for Alzheimer’s psychosis. —Zev Fima, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025

While some Christian creators seem to be taking the demonic allegations quite seriously, the Hatch backlash has become a bit of a meme online, with users accusing the women of being in religious psychosis or just flat out ridiculous. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2025

Other studies have suggested a link between early cannabis use and psychosis in youth. —NPR, 29 Oct. 2025

Her next movie is the suspenseful Die My Love, about a mother struggling with psychosis. —Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for psychosis

• cirrhosis
• fibrosis
• gliosis
• hypnosis
• ichthyosis
• ketosis
• kurtosis
• lordosis
• meiosis
• miosis
• mitosis
• mycosis

Kids Definition

psychosis

noun

psy·​cho·​sis sī-ˈkō-səs 

plural psychoses -ˈkō-ˌsēz 

: 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 

plural psychoses -ˌsēz 

: a serious mental illness (as schizophrenia) characterized by defective or lost contact with reality often with hallucinations or delusions