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

• mental

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

When first published in Iceland in 2018, Eva BjörgÆgisdóttir was hailed as one of the most talented non ew crime authors, along the lines of Arnaldur Indriðason, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Ragnar Jónasson or Lilja Sigurdardottir, thanks to her ability to blend Nordic Noir with psychological depth. —Annika Pham, Variety, 29 Sep. 2025

Sanaa diagnosed with a plethora of mental disorders Doctors and other health care professionals diagnosed Sanaa with a bevy of psychological disorders that included depression, ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder. —Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 29 Sep. 2025

But soon after the union, Rehana says the promises were broken and the psychological abuse and harassment began. —Carlotta Dotto, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025

Mussolini is at once an incisive psychological portrait of one of the 20th century’s most destructive individuals and a clear-eyed dissection of fascism’s politically expedient, intellectually incoherent origins. —Judy Berman, Time, 29 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1787, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing psychological

• psychological moment
• psychological warfare

Rhymes for psychological

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

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