psycho

1 of 2

noun

psy·​cho ˈsī-(ˌ)kō 

plural psychos

informal + disparaging

: psychopath

psycho

2 of 2

adjective

informal + disparaging

: of, relating to, or being a person who is mentally or emotionally unsound or unstable especially in a way that results in dangerous or violent behavior

Synonyms

Noun

• bug
• crackbrain
• crazy
• fool
• fruitcake
• head case
• loon
• loony
• lunatic
• maniac
• nut
• nutcase
• nutter [British slang]
• psychopath
• sickie
• sicko
• wacko
• whacko

Examples of psycho in a Sentence

Noun

a story based on a real-life psycho who had serious mother-son issues

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Texturally, the series is best categorized as a psycho-thriller, but the design of the episodes is never redundant. —WIRED, 17 Mar. 2023

Another summer, another hook-wielding psycho killer — and maybe some familiar faces too. —Jessica Wang, EW.com, 7 Feb. 2023

Melissa Barrera as Sam Carpenter Melissa Barrera 'Scream VI.' | Credit: Philippe Bossé/Paramount Tara's sister Sam has also moved east to keep an eye on her sibling and an eye out for a certain mask-wearing psycho. —Clark Collis, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2023

How James Dearden’s original script entered development as a sympathetic portrayal of a single woman until studio execs turned it into the story of a villainous, largely unsympathetic psycho. —Vulture, 5 Apr. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun

short for psychopath

Adjective

short for psychopathic entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1919, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1945, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

psycho

1 of 2 noun

psy·​cho ˈsī-kō 

informal

: a person of unsound mind

—used disparagingly

psycho-

2 of 2 combining form

: mind : mental processes and activities

psychotherapy

Etymology

Noun

short for psychopath

Combining form

derived from Greek psychē "soul, mind, principle of life"