psyche

noun

psy·​che ˈsī-kē 

1

capitalized : a princess loved by Cupid

2

[Greek psychē]

a

: soul, personality

the nation's consumer psyche

—D. J. Kevles

b

: the totality of elements forming the mind (see mind entry 1 sense 2)

specifically, in Freudian psychoanalytic theory : the id, ego, and superego including both conscious and unconscious components

Did you know?

Sometime back in the 16th century, we borrowed the word psyche directly from Greek into English. In Greek mythology, Psyche was a beautiful princess who fell in love with Eros (Cupid), god of love, and went through terrible trials before being allowed to marry him. The story is often understood to be about the soul redeeming itself through love. (To the Greeks, psyche also meant "butterfly", which suggests how they imagined the soul.) In English, psyche often sounds less spiritual than soul, less intellectual than mind, and more private than personality.

Synonyms

• soul
• spirit

Examples of psyche in a Sentence

some hidden corner within your psyche

disturbing, enigmatic paintings that seem to embody the psyche of this brilliant but troubled artist

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s not entirely explained why or developed further, more ominous mood-setting to externalize Clay’s splintering psyche. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2025

Despite the destabilising effect changing ends can have on home-fan psyche, The Athletic’s investigation into its impact on home-team performance last season proved largely inconclusive. —Thom Harris, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025

But Trump wasn't the only one who badly damaged the national psyche in those heady days. —Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025

Join 28 others in the comments View Comments Coloring a mandala, for example, has a levitating effect on your mood, immune system and all the positive parts of your psyche. —Jessica Dulong, CNN, 15 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek psychē soul

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for psyche

• nike
• spiky

Kids Definition

psyche

noun

psy·​che ˈsī-kē 

1

: soul entry 1 sense 2, self

2

: mind entry 1 sense 2

Medical Definition

psyche

noun

psy·​che ˈsī-(ˌ)kē 

: the specialized cognitive, conative, and affective aspects of a psychosomatic unity : mind

specifically : the totality of the id, ego, and superego including both conscious and unconscious components