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."
"A psychic at the fair offered to read my palm for a small fee."
"Do you really believe that a psychic can predict what will happen next year?"
adj
1
Relating to supposed supernatural or extrasensory abilities.
"He claims to have psychic powers that let him sense danger before it happens."
"The programme featured a woman who said she had psychic gifts and could talk to spirits."
"Many scientists remain sceptical of psychic phenomena such as telepathy."
2
Relating to the mind rather than the body.
"The stress was taking a psychic toll on the whole team."
"Years of loneliness left him with deep psychic scars that were hard to explain."
"The writer described the psychic strain of living in constant fear."
How to use psychic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither someone who claims supernatural mental powers, or simply anything relating to the mind.
Common pairings
psychic powers
visit a psychic
psychic toll
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Word forms
- Plural
- psychics
- Comparative
- more psychic
- Superlative
- most psychic
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The _____ told her she would soon receive good news.
Etymology
From Greek psukhikos ("of the soul, mind"), related to psykhē ("soul, mind").
Synonyms
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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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