psyche
gb/sˈaɪki/ us/sˈaɪki/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
C1
abstract
1
a person’s mind and emotions
someone’s mind, especially feelings and personality
Usage pattern:
the psyche of [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse the noun psyche with the verb psych (e.g., psych yourself up) or misspell psych as psyche.
Synonyms
mind (More general; not specifically about inner emotional life.)
|
mentality (Focuses on attitudes and typical ways of thinking.)
|
inner self (More personal and introspective, less clinical.)
Antonyms
body (The physical self, contrasted with the mental/emotional self.)
|
physique (Physical build or body shape, not mental life.)
Collocations
the human psyche
|a fragile psyche
|a troubled psyche
|the adolescent psyche
|the male/female psyche
|understand the psyche
|damage the psyche
|explore the psyche
|deep in the psyche
|the psyche of a child
Themes
psychology
|emotions
|people
Examples
- Years of bullying left deep scars on his psyche.
- The film explores the psyche of a brilliant but isolated scientist.
- Therapy helped her understand how childhood shaped her psyche.
Learner examples
- Stress can hurt your psyche.
- The book is about the human psyche.
Noun
formal
C2
abstract
2
shared mindset of a group
the common way a group thinks and feels
Usage pattern:
the [group] psyche
Common mistake:
Often used with group nouns (national, public, collective); learners sometimes treat it as plural (*the psyches of the nation*) when a singular is more natural.
Synonyms
collective consciousness (More abstract and sociological; often broader than attitudes and emotions.)
|
public consciousness (Emphasizes what people are aware of or talking about.)
|
zeitgeist (Focuses on the spirit of a particular time period.)
Antonyms
individuality (Focus on the single person rather than group patterns.)
|
private mind (Personal thoughts not shared by a group.)
Collocations
the national psyche
|the public psyche
|the collective psyche
|the American/British psyche
|the cultural psyche
|shape the national psyche
|tap into the public psyche
|in the public psyche
Themes
society
|culture
|psychology
Examples
- The scandal left a mark on the national psyche for years.
- That fear is still present in the public psyche.
- The election exposed deep divisions in the country’s psyche.
Learner examples
- The event changed the national psyche.
proper_noun
literary
C2
role
3
Cupid’s lover in myth
a woman in an old myth who marries Cupid
Usage pattern:
Psyche
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse Psyche (the name) with psyche (the mind). Capitalization matters.
Collocations
Cupid and Psyche
|the myth of Psyche
|the story of Psyche
Themes
mythology
|literature
|art
Examples
- The painting depicts Cupid and Psyche in a classical scene.
- In the myth, Psyche must complete difficult tasks to reunite with Cupid.
Grammar
Dictionary form
psyche
IPA
GB/sˈaɪki/
US/sˈaɪki/
Syllables & stress
psyche (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (psyche)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: psyche
- Plural: psyche
Word family
Core family
Related words
Advanced or less common
Expressions
in the public psyche
1/ˈɪn ðə pˈʌblɪk sˈaɪki/
fixed phrase
formal
in public awareness
in what many people remember or worry about
Examples
- The case remains in the public psyche years later.
- That fear is still present in the public psyche.
the collective psyche
1/ðə kəlˈɛktɪv sˈaɪki/
fixed phrase
formal
shared mindset of a community
the shared mind of a group
Examples
- The image is deeply embedded in the collective psyche.
- Wartime propaganda aimed to shape the collective psyche.
the human psyche
1/ðə hjˈumən sˈaɪki/
fixed phrase
the human mind and emotions
the way people think and feel inside
Examples
- The novel offers a dark look at the human psyche.
- Music can have a powerful effect on the human psyche.
the national psyche
1/ðə nˈæʃnəl sˈaɪki/
fixed phrase
formal
shared feelings of a nation
how most people in a country think and feel
Examples
- The disaster became part of the national psyche.
- The speech was designed to reassure the national psyche during a crisis.