noun

psychosis

seye-KOH-sihs

noun

A severe mental condition in which a person loses touch with reality, often involving hallucinations or delusions.

"His untreated illness eventually progressed into full-blown psychosis."

How to Use Psychosis

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA serious break from reality where a person may hear or see things that aren't there or hold false beliefs.

Common pairings

episode of psychosis postpartum psychosis

psychoses plural

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His untreated illness eventually progressed into full-blown _____.

From psych- + the medical suffix -osis, or directly from Greek psukhōsis ("animation, principle of life").

necrosis neurosis hypnosis fibrosis diagnosis prognosis symbiosis halitosis cirrhosis sclerosis scoliosis thrombosis