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

Michael Fanselow, a professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles, has spent his career studying this dynamic. — Literary Hub, 30 June 2026

As the authors indicate, these opportunities are already being leveraged in some of the most critical specialities, including across psychiatry, cardiology, oncology, and infectious diseases. — Forbes.com, 27 June 2026

The ensuing court battle and decision from the California Supreme Court would forever change the nature of doctor-patient confidentiality in psychiatry, infectious disease, and even genomics. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 25 June 2026

That dopamine hit certainly contributes to the addictiveness of gambling, said Emily Hemendinger, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus. — Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 18 June 2026

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

• neuropsychiatry
• orthopsychiatry
• podiatry

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