psychosis

noun

psy·​cho·​sis sī-ˈkō-səs How to pronounce psychosis (audio)
plural psychoses sī-ˈkō-ˌsēz How to pronounce psychosis (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Psychiatric problems — marked anxiety or panic attacks progressing to temporary psychosis and even schizophrenia-like psychotic illness — are presenting more frequently in emergency rooms. Dr. Jerrold B. Leikin, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024 The burden of justice:Delphi murder case jurors will face unimaginable pressure, life-changing decision Defense attorneys have countered that Allen is an innocent and mentally fragile man whose months-long isolation at Westville drove him to psychosis and to giving false confessions. Kristine Phillips, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Nov. 2024 Some are faced with a more lethal and rare diagnosis: postpartum psychosis. Theara Coleman, theweek, 18 Oct. 2024 Such reasoning often derives from depression rather than psychosis, though some clinicians are reluctant to draw a categorical distinction. Eren Orbey, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for psychosis 

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of psychosis was in 1847

Dictionary Entries Near psychosis

Cite this Entry

“Psychosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychosis. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

psychosis

noun
psy·​cho·​sis sī-ˈkō-səs How to pronounce psychosis (audio)
plural psychoses -ˈkō-ˌsēz How to pronounce psychosis (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce psychosis (audio)
plural psychoses -ˌsēz How to pronounce psychosis (audio)
: a serious mental illness (as schizophrenia) characterized by defective or lost contact with reality often with hallucinations or delusions
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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