Origin: Greek prefix psycho-
Psychological has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
mental or emotional as opposed to physical in nature
"give psychological support"
"psychological warfare"
Of or pertaining to psychology.
"The psychological effects of long-term isolation were studied in depth by the research team."
In plain English: Psychological means relating to your mind, feelings, and thoughts.
"The psychological impact of the long separation was felt by everyone in the family."
Usage: Use psychological to describe anything related to the mind, emotions, or mental processes, such as psychological effects or psychological testing. Avoid using it when referring strictly to physical health or external behaviors that do not involve internal mental states.
This word combines psychology with the suffix -ical, which is a common way to form adjectives describing a field of study or its characteristics. It entered English as a straightforward derivative meant to mean "relating to psychology."