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

Postpartum psychosis is a rare but serious condition that can affect new mothers. — Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026

During the trial, Reddington argued his client was suffering from postpartum psychosis and hallucinating a voice telling her to kill herself and her children that day. — Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2026

OpenAI has yet to involve people prone to psychosis or mania in improving ChatGPT safeguards. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026

Probably the easiest description of psychosis is the obsolete term of insanity. — Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 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