psycho

¹

[sahy-koh]

noun

plural

psychos 

1. a psychopathic or psychotic person.

2. a crazy or mentally unstable person.

adjective

1. psychopathic or psychotic.

2. crazy; mentally unstable.

psycho-

²

1. a combining form representing psyche (psychological ) and psychological (psychoanalysis ) in compound words.

psycho-

¹

combining form

1. indicating the mind or psychological or mental processes

   psychology

   psychogenesis

   psychosomatic

psycho

²

/ ˈsaɪkəʊ /

noun

1. an informal and offensive word for psychopath or psychopathic See psychopath

Word History and Origins

Origin of psycho-¹

First recorded in 1935–40; by shortening

Origin of psycho-²

< Greek, combining form of psȳchḗ breath, spirit, soul, mind; akin to psȳ́chein to blow ( psykter )

Word History and Origins

Origin of psycho-¹

from Greek psukhē spirit, breath

Example Sentences

Indeed, Swift has previously spoken about the media's "fixation on painting me as the psycho serial dater girl".

From BBC

And yet they can’t wait to vote for him in the general election because, as one voter put it, “he may be a psycho, but he’s our psycho.”

From Slate

Gunn’s writing humanized every single character – even Vigilante, a psycho unable to comprehend simple human cues like sarcasm, but who nearly collapses into tears when he realizes he may have failed his friend and hero.

From Salon

Pointedly and inevitably, our leads regress into Mars-Venus caricatures — he’s the jerk, she’s the psycho — as Brooks vents her frustration that gender tropes haven’t evolved.

From Los Angeles Times

The Exotikon Super Shock Show on Thursday will feature a performance by world-class magician Rob Zabrecky, spooky-themed live music by Ghouly Gal and Jimmy Psycho and the Infernal Order of the Black Flame, burlesque dancers and more.

From Los Angeles Times

When To Use

What does psycho- mean?

Psycho- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning either “psyche” or "psychological." Psyche denotes "the human soul, spirit, or mind," while psychological is a related yet distinct term that means "pertaining to psychology, the science of the mind or of mental states." Psycho- is often used in medical and technical terms, especially in psychology.Psycho- comes from Greek psȳchḗ, meaning “breath, spirit, soul, mind.” For more on the meaning of this word in Ancient Greek mythology, read our entry for psyche. The word psyche is at the root of the term psychedelic, which refers to the effect of hallucinogenic drugs.What are variants of psycho-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, psycho- becomes psych-, as in psychiatry. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article on psych-.