noun
psychometry
sy-KOM-uh-tree
Psychometry (noun) means the science of testing and measuring mental abilities and personality. Example: “She studied psychometry as part of her psychology degree.”
noun
1
technical The science of testing and measuring mental abilities and personality.
"She studied psychometry as part of her psychology degree."
"Psychometry is used to design tests that measure personality."
"The company hired an expert in psychometry to review its selection tests."
2
specialist The claimed paranormal ability to learn about an object's past, especially its past owners, simply by handling it.
"The medium claimed to use psychometry to learn about the ring's former owner."
"Psychometry is a topic you will find in books on parapsychology."
"He said he could tell the watch's history by psychometry, though nobody could check his claim."
How to use psychometry
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither psychological testing, or the claimed paranormal skill of reading an object's history by touch.
When to use it
Both senses are specialist, one belonging to psychology and the other to parapsychology.
Memory tip
Check the context to tell which sense is meant, since one is scientific testing and the other is a paranormal claim.
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Common pairings
study psychometry
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She studied _____ as part of her psychology degree.
Etymology
The word is formed from the combining forms psycho- and -metry.
Synonyms
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psychometrics
Rhymes for psychometry
See all rhymes for psychometry →Frequently asked questions
What does psychometry mean?
It has two meanings. In psychology it is the use of tests to measure traits such as intelligence and personality. In parapsychology it is the claimed ability to learn about an object's past by handling it.
Is psychometry the same as psychometrics?
In the sense of measuring traits with psychological tests, psychometrics is given as a synonym. The paranormal sense belongs only to psychometry.
How do you pronounce psychometry?
It is usually said sy-KOM-uh-tree, with the stress on the second syllable.
What is the meaning of psychometry?
"psychometry" (noun) means the science of testing and measuring mental abilities and personality.
