adj B1 Intermediate Common

psychological

seye-kuh-LOJ-ih-kl

Psychological (adj) means relating to psychology or to the workings of the mind. Example: “The soldiers faced serious psychological challenges after returning home.”

adj

Relating to psychology or to the workings of the mind.

"The soldiers faced serious psychological challenges after returning home."

Existing only in the mind rather than having a real, objective basis.

"His fear of flying is purely psychological — the plane is perfectly safe."

How to use psychological

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishHaving to do with the mind, emotions, or mental processes.

Easily confused with

physiological →

Common pairings

psychological effect psychological damage psychological thriller

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The soldiers faced serious _____ challenges after returning home.

Etymology

From psychology plus the adjective suffix -ical.

Synonyms

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mental emotional cognitive mind-related psychical inner

Related words

moved moving physical mental internal emotional charged interior

Rhymes for psychological

musical comical radical medical logical lyrical typical cynical optical magical inimical biblical

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Frequently asked questions

What does “psychological” mean?

The word “psychological” means relating to psychology or to the workings of the mind. In plain terms, having to do with the mind, emotions, or mental processes.

How do you pronounce “psychological”?

“Psychological” is pronounced seye-kuh-LOJ-ih-kl (/ˌsaɪ.kəˈlɑː.d͡ʒɪ.kl̩/ in IPA).

How do you use “psychological” in a sentence?

Here is “psychological” used in a sentence: “The soldiers faced serious psychological challenges after returning home.”

What part of speech is “psychological”?

“Psychological” is an adjective.

Is “psychological” a common word?

“Psychological” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “psychological” have?

“Psychological” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to psychology or to the workings of the mind.

What is the difference between psychological and physical?

Psychological relates to the mind and its workings, while physical relates to the body. A psychological effect exists in the mind, whereas a physical effect involves the body or material world.

What is the difference between psychological and mental?

Both relate to the mind, but psychological specifically connects to psychology and the study of how the mind works, and can also describe something existing only in the mind rather than in reality. Mental is a broader, more everyday word for anything relating to the mind.

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