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

People who report a history of sleep loss that triggers mania are much more likely to develop postpartum psychosis, and a person with a previous experience with postpartum psychosis is more likely to have it again. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026

Dukes told jurors that Clancy expressed concerns about being addicted to benzodiazepines, but did not show obvious signs of mania or psychosis. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026

Postpartum psychosis is associated with an elevated risk of infanticide; some reviews have estimated that as many as 4% of affected mothers may kill their infant. — Ayana Lage, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2026

Clancy's attorney Kevin Reddington said Clancy admits to killing her children but says she should not be held criminally responsible because she was overmedicated and suffering from postpartum psychosis. — Matt Schooley, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

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