adj
psychosomatic
seye-koh-suh-MA-tihk
Psychosomatic (adj) means describing a physical symptom or illness that is caused or worsened by mental or emotional factors. Example: “The doctor suspected her chronic headaches were psychosomatic, linked to work stress.”
adj
1
Describing a physical symptom or illness that is caused or worsened by mental or emotional factors.
"The doctor suspected her chronic headaches were psychosomatic, linked to work stress."
How to use psychosomatic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA real physical symptom that's rooted in stress, anxiety, or other mental causes rather than a purely physical injury or disease.
Common mistake
Psychosomatic symptoms are real, not "fake" or imagined — the pain is genuine even though the trigger is mental.
Common pairings
psychosomatic illness
psychosomatic pain
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more psychosomatic
- Superlative
- most psychosomatic
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The doctor suspected her chronic headaches were _____, linked to work stress.
Etymology
From psycho- + somatic (relating to the body).
Rhymes for psychosomatic
See all rhymes for psychosomatic →Frequently asked questions
What does “psychosomatic” mean?
The word “psychosomatic” means describing a physical symptom or illness that is caused or worsened by mental or emotional factors. In plain terms, a real physical symptom that's rooted in stress, anxiety, or other mental causes rather than a purely physical injury or disease.
How do you pronounce “psychosomatic”?
“Psychosomatic” is pronounced seye-koh-suh-MA-tihk (/ˌsaɪkoʊsəˈmædɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “psychosomatic” in a sentence?
Here is “psychosomatic” used in a sentence: “The doctor suspected her chronic headaches were psychosomatic, linked to work stress.”
What part of speech is “psychosomatic”?
“Psychosomatic” is an adjective.
Where does the word “psychosomatic” come from?
The word “psychosomatic” comes from Latin. From psycho- + somatic (relating to the body).
