What does telepathist mean?
A telepathist is a person who claims to know another person's thoughts or to communicate by thought transfer without ordinary speech, writing, or other obvious physical means. In modern usage, the word most often describes a performer who presents mind-reading acts at shows, or a person whose claimed ability to receive others' thoughts invites skepticism. The term can therefore sound theatrical, promotional, or dismissive, depending on context and the speaker's attitude. A telepathist is narrower than a "psychic": while a psychic may be described as using extrasensory perception generally, a telepathist specifically claims to know or exchange thoughts. The word belongs to the vocabulary of entertainment, skepticism, and historical accounts of alleged supernatural communication. Understanding it helps distinguish an explicitly claimed mind-reader from other people described broadly as psychics.
nounA person who claims to know, receive, or transmit another person's thoughts or feelings through telepathy rather than ordinary speech or writing.
- A person who claims to know, receive, or transmit another person's thoughts or feelings through telepathy.
"The stage telepathist persuaded the audience that he could identify a hidden playing card."
"A famous telepathist once attempted to divine the name selected by each member of the audience."
"The newspaper described the self-proclaimed telepathist as a fraud after investigators tested his claimed ability."
The regular plural is formed by adding -s.
"Two alleged telepathists appeared on the same television program."
Long before technology could transmit a thought, showmen claimed to do it on stage.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does telepathist come from?
Telepathist was formed in English from telepathy plus the suffix -ist, denoting a person who practices or claims the relevant ability. The underlying compound combines Greek roots meaning "far, at a distance" and "feeling, suffering," reflecting the historical idea of communication beyond ordinary physical distance. It entered English during the nineteenth century, when alleged telepathic communication was widely discussed, and developed alongside related forms such as telepathy, telepathic, and telepath.
How telepathist is actually used
The term is chiefly used for entertainers and people making claimed mind-reading abilities. It can sound theatrical, promotional, or dismissive depending on context and the speaker's attitude toward the claim.
Easily confused with telepathist
A telepathist is a person, whereas telepathy is the alleged ability or practice of communicating through thoughts or feelings.
A telepathist specifically claims to know or exchange thoughts, while a psychic may be described more broadly as having extrasensory perception.