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noun Common

psychic

SEYE-kihk

Psychic (noun) means a person claimed to have supernatural abilities, such as reading minds or predicting the future. Example: “The psychic told her she would soon receive good news.”

noun
1
A person claimed to have supernatural abilities, such as reading minds or predicting the future.
"The psychic told her she would soon receive good news."
adj
1
Relating to supposed supernatural or extrasensory abilities.
"He claims to have psychic powers that let him sense danger before it happens."
2
Relating to the mind rather than the body.
"The stress was taking a psychic toll on the whole team."

How to Use Psychic

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither someone who claims supernatural mental powers, or simply anything relating to the mind.

Common pairings
psychic powers visit a psychic psychic toll

Word Forms

more psychic comparative, psychics plural, most psychic superlative

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Test yourself on “psychic” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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Can you complete this real example?

The _____ told her she would soon receive good news.

Etymology

From Greek psukhikos ("of the soul, mind"), related to psykhē ("soul, mind").

Origin: Greek

Related Words

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “psychic” mean?

The word “psychic” means a person claimed to have supernatural abilities, such as reading minds or predicting the future. In plain terms, either someone who claims supernatural mental powers, or simply anything relating to the mind.

How do you pronounce “psychic”?

“Psychic” is pronounced SEYE-kihk (/ˈsaɪkɪk/ in IPA).

How do you use “psychic” in a sentence?

Here is “psychic” used in a sentence: “The psychic told her she would soon receive good news.”

What part of speech is “psychic”?

Depending on how it is used, “psychic” can be a noun and an adjective.

Where does the word “psychic” come from?

The word “psychic” comes from Greek. From Greek psukhikos ("of the soul, mind"), related to psykhē ("soul, mind").

Is “psychic” a common word?

“Psychic” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “psychic” have?

“Psychic” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person claimed to have supernatural abilities, such as reading minds or predicting the future.

What is the difference between psychic and psychiatric?

Psychic relates to supposed supernatural or extrasensory abilities, such as reading minds or predicting the future, while psychiatric relates to the medical treatment of mental illness. Despite their similar spelling, the two words describe entirely different concepts.

Is 'psychic' always about supernatural powers?

No, psychic can also mean relating to the mind rather than the body, as in 'psychic stress' or 'psychic energy,' without implying any supernatural ability. This usage is common in psychology and everyday descriptions of mental states.

What do people mean by 'psychic reading'?

A psychic reading refers to a session in which a person claiming supernatural abilities offers insight into someone's future, personality, or past events, often through methods like tarot cards or palm reading. The accuracy and legitimacy of such readings are widely disputed.

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