What does telepathy mean?
Telepathy is the supposed paranormal ability to exchange thoughts, feelings, or information directly between two minds without speech, gestures, or another physical signal. In ordinary usage, the word appears in fiction, folklore, accounts of psychic performances, and speculative discussions of communication beyond known physical mechanisms. Because no reliable scientific evidence establishes telepathy, careful speakers generally describe it as an alleged or supposed ability rather than presenting it as fact. The term can also be used figuratively when two people appear to understand one another without explanation, though this playful use should not be confused with literal claims of mind-reading. Telepathy is culturally significant because it explores a persistent question: whether private mental experience can ever be transferred between people. Its history also reflects the Victorian and modern fascination with spiritualism, psychology, and phenomena that appeared to challenge the boundaries of ordinary communication.
nounTelepathy is the supposed ability to communicate thoughts, feelings, or information directly from one mind to another without speech or other physical signals. The phenomenon is not established by scientific evidence and is chiefly encountered in fiction, folklore, spiritualism, and speculative discussion.
- The supposed paranormal ability to communicate thoughts, feelings, or information directly between minds without an ordinary physical medium.
"The novel imagines a society in which telepathy has made conversation largely unnecessary."
"Their apparent telepathy allowed the twins to anticipate each other's questions without speaking."
"The skeptic challenged the medium's claim that she had used telepathy to identify a hidden object."
The plural is uncommon because telepathy is normally treated as an uncountable noun.
"The study found no convincing evidence of telepathies between the participants."
Telepathy means “feeling at a distance”—and that distance has always been the hard part.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does telepathy come from?
Telepathy was formed in English during the 19th century from the Greek elements tēlē, meaning “far off” or “at a distance,” and pathos, meaning “feeling” or “suffering.” The combined sense was therefore “feeling at a distance,” an apt expression for the supposed transmission of thoughts between separated people. Its formation parallels other English compounds using tēlē, including telephone, telegraph, and telescope.
Related word forms
How telepathy is actually used
Telepathy is normally used for an alleged, fictional, or figurative phenomenon. In serious discussion it often signals a claim to be tested rather than an accepted psychological or physical ability; in fiction and casual speech it may be used humorously for unusually accurate understanding of another person.
Easily confused with telepathy
Telepathy is the supposed direct transfer of thoughts or feelings between minds, whereas sympathy means sharing or understanding another person's feelings.