noun Uncommon

psychopath

SEYE-koh-path

Quiz me More like this

Psychopath (noun) means a person with a severe personality disorder marked by manipulation, lack of empathy, and disregard for others' safety or rights. Example: “The documentary examined how a corporate psychopath rose to the top by exploiting colleagues.”

noun

A person with a severe personality disorder marked by manipulation, lack of empathy, and disregard for others' safety or rights.

"The documentary examined how a corporate psychopath rose to the top by exploiting colleagues."

Loosely, someone who commits shockingly violent or bizarre acts.

"The media labeled the killer a psychopath after details of the crime emerged."

How to use psychopath

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone who lacks empathy and remorse and often manipulates or harms others without guilt.

Common mistake

In casual speech people use "psychopath" loosely for anyone cruel or reckless, but clinically it refers to a specific, diagnosable personality pattern.

Easily confused with

sociopath →

Common pairings

diagnosed psychopath corporate psychopath

Vocabulary Flow

Build your vocabulary from words like psychopath.

Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.

Start vocabulary practice

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: psychopaths

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

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The documentary examined how a corporate _____ rose to the top by exploiting colleagues.

Etymology

From German psychopathisch, built from Greek psykhē ("soul") + pathos ("suffering").

Origin: German

Synonyms

View more →

sociopath

Related words

sociopath

Rhymes for psychopath

sociopath

See all rhymes for psychopath →

Frequently asked questions

What does “psychopath” mean?

The word “psychopath” means a person with a severe personality disorder marked by manipulation, lack of empathy, and disregard for others' safety or rights. In plain terms, someone who lacks empathy and remorse and often manipulates or harms others without guilt.

How do you pronounce “psychopath”?

“Psychopath” is pronounced SEYE-koh-path (/ˈsaɪkoʊˌpæθ/ in IPA).

How do you use “psychopath” in a sentence?

Here is “psychopath” used in a sentence: “The documentary examined how a corporate psychopath rose to the top by exploiting colleagues.”

What part of speech is “psychopath”?

“Psychopath” is a noun.

Where does the word “psychopath” come from?

The word “psychopath” comes from German. From German psychopathisch, built from Greek psykhē ("soul") + pathos ("suffering").

Is “psychopath” a common word?

“Psychopath” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “psychopath” have?

“Psychopath” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person with a severe personality disorder marked by manipulation, lack of empathy, and disregard for others' safety or rights.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include psychopath:

Words with German origins

People also searched

sociopath