psychedelic

1 of 2

noun

psy·​che·​del·​ic ˌsī-kə-ˈde-lik 

: a psychedelic drug (such as LSD)

psychedelic

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: of, relating to, or being drugs (such as LSD) capable of producing abnormal psychic effects (such as hallucinations) and sometimes psychotic states

b

: produced by or associated with the use of psychedelic drugs

a psychedelic experience

2

: imitating, suggestive of, or reproducing effects (such as distorted or bizarre images or sounds) resembling those produced by psychedelic drugs

psychedelic color schemes

3

: of, relating to, characteristic of, or being the period of the mid- to late-1960's that is associated with the psychedelic drug culture

psychedelic rock

the psychedelic era/movement

… the "rainbow newspaper" of San Francisco that burst onto the psychedelic scene in 1966 …

—Don Lattin

… speaking of stereotypes, the illustrations reject any hint of a '60s psychedelic style …

—Steven Heller

psychedelically

ˌsī-kə-ˈde-li-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Did you know?

The most famous--or notorious--of the psychedelic drugs is LSD, a compound that can be obtained from various mushrooms and other fungi but is usually created in the lab. The other well-known psychedelics are psilocybin (likewise obtained from fungi) and mescaline (obtained from peyote cactus). How psychedelics produce their effects is still fairly mysterious, partly because research ceased for almost 20 years because of their reputation, but scientists are determined to find the answers and much research is now under way. Psychedelics are now used to treat anxiety in patients with cancer, and are being tested in the treatment of such serious conditions as severe depression, alcoholism, and drug addiction.

Examples of psychedelic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The shift comes as Rogan's famously free-wheeling conversations have taken a sharper political turn, moving away from the offbeat blend of comedy, psychedelics, mixed martial arts and contrarian brawling that once defined his broad appeal. —Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025

This is certainly not the first group to suggest psychedelics could make the world a better place. —Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2025

Adjective

Swirly tips are a pro’s favorite to add a little flair to the classic design, whether done more abstract and blobby (think the large swirls of a rainbow bagel) or graphic and psychedelic (similar to an Emilio Pucci print). —Sophia Panych, Allure, 28 Apr. 2025

Meow Wolf New York: The Santa Fe, N.M., company, which runs a psychedelic string of immersive art exhibits, will build its first East Coast outpost in downtown Manhattan. —Mustafah Abdulaziz, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

irregular from psych- + Greek dēloun to show, from dēlos evident; akin to Sanskrit dīdeti it shines, Latin dies day — more at deity

First Known Use

Noun

1956, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1957, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing psychedelic

• pre-psychedelic

Rhymes for psychedelic

• philatelic
• allelic
• angelic
• relic
• telic

Kids Definition

psychedelic

1 of 2 adjective

psy·​che·​del·​ic ˌsī-kə-ˈdel-ik 

1

: of, relating to, or being a drug (as LSD) that produces abnormal often extreme mental effects (as hallucinations)

2

a

: imitating the effects of psychedelic drugs

b

: glowing brightly

psychedelic

2 of 2 noun

: a psychedelic drug

Medical Definition

psychedelic

1 of 2 noun

psy·​che·​del·​ic ˌsī-kə-ˈdel-ik 

: a psychedelic drug (as LSD)

psychedelic

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of, relating to, or being drugs (as LSD) capable of producing abnormal psychic effects (as hallucinations) and sometimes psychotic states

2

: produced by or associated with the use of psychedelic drugs

a psychedelic experience

psychedelically

-ˈdel-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb