psychosis

noun

psy·​cho·​sis sī-ˈkō-səs 

plural psychoses sī-ˈkō-ˌsēz 

: a serious mental illness (such as schizophrenia) characterized by defective or lost contact with reality often with hallucinations or delusions

Examples of psychosis in a Sentence

The patient suffers from some kind of psychosis.

Recent Examples on the Web

Even with her psychologist, Clancy denied wanting to hurt anyone else, denied voices, denied having visual hallucinations, and showed no signs of psychosis, Sprague said. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2026

Her defense claims that she was overmedicated and suffering from postpartum psychosis, and so should not be held criminally responsible. — Kerry Breen, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026

His testimony attempted to cast doubt on the claims that Clancy was suffering from postpartum psychosis and that a voice told her to kill her children. — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026

Reddington questioned Saathoff on his history of treating people with postpartum psychosis, attempting to minimize the psychiatrist's expertise on the matter. — Sumiko Corley, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for psychosis

• cirrhosis
• fibrosis
• gliosis
• hypnosis
• ichthyosis
• ketosis
• kurtosis
• lordosis
• meiosis
• miosis
• mitosis
• mycosis

Kids Definition

psychosis

noun

psy·​cho·​sis sī-ˈkō-səs 

plural psychoses -ˈkō-ˌsēz 

: a serious mental illness marked by loss of or greatly lessened ability to test whether what one is thinking and feeling about the real world is really true

Medical Definition

psychosis

noun

psy·​cho·​sis sī-ˈkō-səs 

plural psychoses -ˌsēz 

: a serious mental illness (as schizophrenia) characterized by defective or lost contact with reality often with hallucinations or delusions