psychology

noun

psy·​chol·​o·​gy sī-ˈkä-lə-jē 

plural psychologies

1

: the science of mind and behavior

studied psychology in college

2

a

: the mental or behavioral characteristics of an individual or group

the psychology of athletes

We need to understand the psychologies of the two people involved in the incident.

Which fear is more likely to rule the day has to do with each person's psychology and perception of risk.

—Hannah Herrera Greenspan

b

: the study of mind and behavior in relation to a particular field of knowledge or activity

the psychology of learning

3

: a theory or system of psychology

Freudian psychology

the psychology of Jung

Did you know?

The Roots of Psychology

The word psychology was formed by combining the Greek psychē (meaning “breath, principle of life, life, soul,”) with –logia (which comes from the Greek logos, meaning “speech, word, reason”). An early use appears in Nicholas Culpeper’s mid-17th century translation of Simeon Partliz’s A New Method of Physick, in which it is stated that “Psychologie is the knowledg of the Soul.” Today, psychology is concerned with the science or study of the mind and behavior. Many branches of psychology are differentiated by the specific field to which they belong, such as animal psychology, child psychology, and sports psychology.

Examples of psychology in a Sentence

She studied psychology in college.

the psychology of an athlete

the psychology of crowd behavior

We need to understand the psychologies of the two people involved in the incident.

Recent Examples on the Web

In popular discourse, the word has taken on a life of its own, as an insult deployed without clear reference to any theory of psychology. —David Merritt Johns, The Atlantic, 2 Nov. 2025

In this video, CNN’s Isabel Rosales braves the infamous Netherworld Haunted House and explores the psychology behind our fascination with fear. —Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025

But psychology experts have noted that phasmophobia hasn't been studied as closely as other phobias. —Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025

Some fallen pastors were sent to Emerge Ministries, a counseling center in Akron, Ohio, founded in 1973 by Assemblies of God minister Richard Dobbins, a pioneer of Christian psychology. —Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin psychologia, from psych- + -logia -logy

First Known Use

1749, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing psychology

• abnormal psychology
• analytical psychology
• analytic psychology
• clinical psychology
• depth psychology
• educational psychology
• evolutionary psychology
• Gestalt psychology
• industrial psychology
• physiological psychology
• reverse psychology
• social psychology

Rhymes for psychology

• anthology
• apology
• astrology
• biology
• christology
• chronology
• conchology
• cosmology
• cryptology
• cytology
• doxology
• ecology

Kids Definition

psychology

noun

psy·​chol·​o·​gy sī-ˈkäl-ə-jē 

plural psychologies

1

: the science or study of mind and behavior

2

: the particular ways in which an individual or group thinks or behaves

Etymology

from scientific Latin psychologia "the study of the mind and behavior," derived from Greek psychē "soul, mind" and Greek -logia "science, study"

Medical Definition

psychology

noun

psy·​chol·​o·​gy -jē 

plural psychologies

1

: the science of mind and behavior

2

a

: the mental or behavioral characteristics typical of an individual or group or a particular form of behavior

mob psychology

the psychology of arson

b

: the study of mind and behavior in relation to a particular field of knowledge or activity

color psychology

the psychology of learning

3

: a treatise on or a school, system, or branch of psychology