psychiatry

noun

psy·​chi·​a·​try sə-ˈkī-ə-trē 

sī-

: a branch of medicine that deals with mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders

psychiatric

ˌsī-kē-ˈa-trik 

adjective

psychiatrically

ˌsī-kē-ˈa-tri-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of psychiatry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Experts in psychiatry and workplace wellness previously told Newsweek that long hours are linked to sleep disruption, impaired executive function and even structural changes in the brain. —Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025

Zablocki, meanwhile, reported shortages in 16 clinical positions, including internal medicine and psychiatry, and five nonclinical positions. —Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025

Harriet De Wit, PhD, professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at the University of Chicago, praised the rigor of the research. —Dr. Christian S. Monsalve, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2025

But after graduating from medical school, Sarah left pathology behind and became a psychiatry resident. —EW.com, 2 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably from French psychiatrie, from psychiatre psychiatrist, from psych- psych- + Greek iatros physician — more at -iatry

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for psychiatry

• gayatri
• neuropsychiatry
• orthopsychiatry

Kids Definition

psychiatry

noun

psy·​chi·​a·​try sə-ˈkī-ə-trē 

sī-

: a branch of medicine that deals with disorders of the mind, emotions, or behavior

psychiatric

ˌsī-kē-ˈa-trik 

adjective

Medical Definition

psychiatry

noun

psy·​chi·​a·​try -trē 

plural psychiatries

: a branch of medicine that deals with the science and practice of treating mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders especially as originating in endogenous causes or resulting from faulty interpersonal relationships