psychological

adjective

psy·​cho·​log·​i·​cal ˌsī-kə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

variants or less commonly psychologic

ˌsī-kə-ˈlä-jik 

1

a

: of or relating to psychology

psychological research

b

: of, relating to, or occurring in the mind : mental

psychological distress

psychological disorders

2

: directed toward, influencing, or acting on the mind especially in relation to an individual's willpower or behavioral motivation

psychological warfare

psychological strategies

psychologically

ˌsī-kə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Since losing its Winston Cup [NASCAR] races, the town of North Wilkesboro has suffered economically and psychologically.

—Derek H. Alderman et al.

To gas light is to psychologically manipulate a person to the point where they question their own sanity …

—Lauren Duca

Synonyms of psychological

• mental
• internal
• inner
• interior

Examples of psychological in a Sentence

a psychological rather than a physical condition

suffered from psychological disorders all of his life

Recent Examples on the Web

Earlier works tinging with an obscure kind of darkness that hinted at tortured psychological states have all but disappeared from her work and living quarters in lieu of an elegant old world charm. — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 29 Sep. 2026

The study was designed to examine the psychological effects of authority and powerlessness in a prison setting, according to the university. — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2026

On Monday, Johnson said the the fears of the threat of AI is a Chinese psychological operation and are politically motivated. — Nicholas Kerr, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026

Created by Lauren Iungerich, Poser is a thriller in which two estranged former best friends get caught up in a psychological game after one gets the life she’s always coveted. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1787, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing psychological

• psychological moment
• psychological warfare

Rhymes for psychological

• astrological
• biological
• christological
• chronological
• cosmological
• cytological
• dialogical
• ecological
• ethnological
• ethological
• geological
• histological

Kids Definition

psychological

adjective

psy·​cho·​log·​i·​cal ˌsī-kə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

variants also psychologic

-ˈläj-ik 

1

a

: of or relating to psychology

psychological research

b

: of, relating to, or occurring in the mind : mental

psychological distress

psychological disorders

2

: meant to influence the will or mind

psychological warfare

psychologically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

psychological

adjective

psy·​cho·​log·​i·​cal ˌsī-kə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

variants also psychologic

-ik 

1

a

: relating to, characteristic of, directed toward, influencing, arising in, or acting through the mind especially in its affective or cognitive functions

psychological phenomena

the psychological aspects of a problem

b

: directed toward, influencing, or acting on the mind especially in relation to an individual's willpower or behavioral motivation

psychological warfare

2

: relating to, concerned with, deriving from, or used in psychology

psychological research

psychological tests

a psychological clinic

psychologically

-ē

adverb