What does psychically mean?
Psychically is an adverb meaning in a manner involving the mind, mental powers, or claimed paranormal abilities rather than ordinary physical means. Its most distinctive use is in discussions of telepathy, clairvoyance, and other alleged psychic phenomena: a person may say that information was conveyed psychically, meaning through supposed mind-to-mind contact. These claims are not scientifically established, so the wording can carry a skeptical or sensational connotation depending on context. Psychically can also be used more broadly and figuratively for something done mentally or emotionally, as in psychically exhausted, although mentally is often the more neutral choice. The word is especially associated with spiritualism, occultism, and paranormal fiction, but it is not limited to those settings. Because it can suggest both extraordinary mental abilities and ordinary mental strain, careful use of psychically helps distinguish an appeal to unverifiable powers from a straightforward reference to someone’s psychological condition.
adverbIn a manner involving the mind, mental state, or alleged paranormal powers rather than physical action or material means.
- In a manner involving the mind, mental state, or claimed paranormal abilities rather than physical action or material means.
"She believed the two sisters were communicating psychically across the country."
"She believed the two sisters were communicating psychically across the country."
"After weeks of night shifts, the staff felt psychically drained."
Psychically can point beyond the physical world or, figuratively, deep into the mind itself.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does psychically come from?
Psychically derives from psychic, which comes through Latin psychicus from Greek psychikos, meaning “of or pertaining to the soul or mind,” from psychē, meaning “soul” or “mind.” The adverb is formed from psychic with the suffix -ally, which marks manner and is parallel to -ly. Related English words include psychology, psychiatry, and psychosis, all belonging to the same broad family of Greek-derived terms associated with the mind or soul.
How psychically is actually used
In paranormal contexts, psychically often refers to means such as telepathy or clairvoyance, whose effectiveness is not scientifically established. It can also be used figuratively for mental or emotional condition, as in “psychically drained,” though “mentally” is often a more neutral choice.
Easily confused with psychically
Psychically refers to the mind, emotions, or alleged paranormal abilities, whereas physically refers to bodily or material matters.