psychotic

/saɪˈkɑdɪk/

/saɪˈkɒtɪk/

Other forms: psychotics; psychotically

As an adjective, psychotic describes something that is of or related to an abnormal mental condition often characterized by delusions or hallucinations. Psychotic episodes, for example, are periods of mental instability when people lose contact with reality.

Psychotic is based on the Greek word psykhe, which means mind. As a noun, psychotic is a person suffering from psychosis — that is delusions, hallucinations, or any mental state that includes a loss of reality. Although the noun officially refers to the medical diagnosis, it is sometimes used as a slang to refer to anyone behaving in an erratic manner: "Your friend is a total psychotic! He was jumping on the tables at lunch and shouting song lyrics."

Definitions of psychotic

1. adjective

   characteristic of or suffering from psychosis
   synonyms:

   insane

   afflicted with or characteristic of mental derangement
2. noun

   a person afflicted with psychosis
   synonyms: psycho, psychotic person

   types:

   cataleptic

   a person suffering from catalepsy

   paranoiac, paranoid

   a person afflicted with paranoia

   schizophrenic

   someone who is afflicted with schizophrenia

   type of:

   diseased person, sick person, sufferer

   a person suffering from an illness