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

Like so many people with severe mental health issues, Jack’s psychoses soon pushed her down California’s mental-health-to-criminal-justice pipeline. —Calmatters, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024

Some serial killers have displayed symptoms of psychosis, according to Psychology Today. —Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 21 Mar. 2024

Related article Opinion: Does marijuana cause psychosis? —Jen Christensen, CNN, 9 Feb. 2024

Clinically speaking the term psychosis refers to symptoms showing loss of capacity to assess reality and primarily characterized by hallucinations, delusions and disorganized thinking. —Greg Licholai, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023

Robinson has been diagnosed with major depressive disorder that doesn’t involve psychosis, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder. —Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024

Some conditions, including bipolar disorder and psychosis, are disqualifying. —Claire Rush and Gene Johnson, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Oct. 2023

Officials say Roche was involuntarily hospitalized \ due to his extreme state of paranoia, psychosis and threat to harm USAF security personnel. —Louis Casiano, Fox News, 21 Dec. 2023

As cities face soaring rates of homelessness, drug overdoses, violent crime and psychosis, private security guards like Mr. Bock have become a solution of last resort. —Marc Lacey, New York Times, 18 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

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