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
1
Relating to psychology or to the workings of the mind.
"The soldiers faced serious psychological challenges after returning home."
"She is studying psychological research on how children learn to share."
"The charity offers psychological support to people who have lost their jobs."
2
Existing only in the mind rather than having a real, objective basis.
"His fear of flying is purely psychological — the plane is perfectly safe."
"The doctor said her headaches were psychological, not caused by any illness."
"His sense of being watched was psychological, since the street was empty."
How to use psychological
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHaving to do with the mind, emotions, or mental processes.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
psychological effect
psychological damage
psychological thriller
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The soldiers faced serious _____ challenges after returning home.
Etymology
From psychology plus the adjective suffix -ical.
Related words
Rhymes for psychological
See all rhymes for psychological →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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