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

The third part of answering when to sell is your personal psyche. —George Deeb, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

She’s previously described her last album, Preacher’s Daughter, as the first of a trilogy, with the next two albums set to explore the psyches of the matriarchal line of the fictional Cain family. —James Factora, Them, 1 Nov. 2024

The world got some insight into her psyche in December 2022 when The Ankler published a tell-all interview with Finch, who fell back on old party lines about the abuse at the hands of her brother being the root cause of all her actions — abuse that has never been confirmed. —Hunter Ingram, Variety, 15 Oct. 2024

The Joker, as her patient, manipulates Harley by essentially breaking down her psyche during their sessions. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek psychē soul

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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