Psych: meaning, definitions and examples

🧠
Add to dictionary

psych

 

[ saɪk ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

mental state

The term 'psych' typically refers to the mind or mental processes. It is often used informally to denote psychological phenomena or practices.

Synonyms

mentality, mind, psyche

Examples of usage

  • He's really into psych and studies human behavior.
  • The psych behind his actions is quite complex.
  • She decided to major in psych at university.
  • Understanding the psych of others can enhance communication.
Context #2 | Verb

to manipulate

To 'psych' someone out means to use psychological manipulation to confuse or intimidate them, often in a competitive setting.

Synonyms

confuse, intimidate, manipulate

Examples of usage

  • The athlete tried to psych his opponent before the match.
  • Don't let them psych you out during the interview.
  • She used her experience to psych out the competition.
  • He managed to psych himself into believing he could win.

Translations

Translations of the word "psych" in other languages:

🇵🇹 psicólogo

🇮🇳 मनोवैज्ञानिक

🇩🇪 Psychologe

🇮🇩 psikolog

🇺🇦 психолог

🇵🇱 psycholog

🇯🇵 心理学者

🇫🇷 psychologue

🇪🇸 psicólogo

🇹🇷 psikolog

🇰🇷 심리학자

🇸🇦 عالم نفس

🇨🇿 psycholog

🇸🇰 psychológ

🇨🇳 心理学家

🇸🇮 psiholog

🇮🇸 sálfræðingur

🇰🇿 психолог

🇬🇪 ფსიქოლოგი

🇦🇿 psixoloq

🇲🇽 psicólogo

Etymology

The word 'psych' is derived from the Greek word 'psyche', which means 'soul' or 'breath of life'. It evolved through Latin and early modern English to refer to the mind. The colloquial usage of 'psych' in contemporary language emerged in the mid-20th century, becoming popular in various subcultures, especially within psychology and sports. As a verb, it gained traction in the 1960s, particularly in competitive sports and psychological contexts, where manipulating or understanding mental states became essential. The transition from a term of academic study to a common vernacular reflects the increasing public interest in psychology and the complexities of human behavior.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,333 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.