psyche

noun

psy·​che ˈsī-kē 

1

Psyche : 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 of psyche

• 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

His plays gleefully plumb the wickedest aspects of the human psyche, delivering tales of relentless conquest, Jewish perfidy, deals with the devil, and gay love. —Isaac Butler, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2025

The novella lacks the temporal markers that indicate how much time has passed between episodes and exhibits an abundance of characters with ruptured psyches. —JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025

Meanwhile, Mima’s own psyche becomes fractured, a crisis of self-image expressed in frighteningly dreamlike fashion. —Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025

Despite trying to have a fresh new start at The Overlook, the Torrances' relationships prove to be too strained, and matters only intensify after Danny's terrifying premonitions appear to come true as Jack's psyche unravels. —Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek psychē soul

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for psyche

• nike
• spiky

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