psychoanalysis

noun

psy·​cho·​anal·​y·​sis ˌsī-kō-ə-ˈna-lə-səs 

: a method of analyzing psychic phenomena and treating emotional disorders that involves treatment sessions during which the patient is encouraged to talk freely about personal experiences and especially about early childhood and dreams

psychoanalyst

ˌsī-kō-ˈa-nə-list 

noun

Examples of psychoanalysis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His role was to provide real-world experience in the art of psychoanalysis and its practice, meaning that Lloyd asked him not to act. —Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2025

His works reflect the influence of French surrealism, psychoanalysis, and his love of both photography and jazz, along with a strong commitment to revolutionary Latin American politics. —Julio Cortázar, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025

But this just sends us back to psychoanalysis. —Michael Robbins, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025

These include artificial intelligence, biology, neurology, psychoanalysis, phenomenology, and even Buddhism. —Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for psychoanalysis

• haemodialysis
• hemodialysis
• microanalysis
• analysis
• dialysis
• paralysis
• cryptanalysis
• urinalysis
• electrodialysis

Kids Definition

psychoanalysis

noun

psy·​cho·​anal·​y·​sis ˌsī-kō-ə-ˈnal-ə-səs 

plural psychoanalyses

-ˌsēz

: a method of explaining and treating mental and emotional disorders by having the patient talk freely about himself or herself and especially about dreams, problems, and early childhood memories and experiences

Medical Definition

psychoanalysis

noun

psy·​cho·​anal·​y·​sis ˌsī-kō-ə-ˈnal-ə-səs 

variants also psychanalysis

ˌsī-kə- 

plural psychoanalyses -ˌsēz 

1

: a method of analyzing psychic phenomena and treating mental and emotional disorders that is based on the concepts and theories of Sigmund Freud, that emphasizes the importance of free association and dream analysis, and that involves treatment sessions during which the patient is encouraged to talk freely about personal experiences and especially about early childhood and dreams

2

: a body of empirical findings and a set of theories on human motivation, behavior, and personality development that developed especially with the aid of psychoanalysis

3

: a school of psychology, psychiatry, and psychotherapy founded by Sigmund Freud and rooted in and applying psychoanalysis