psychologist

UK: saɪˈkɒlədʒɪst | US: saɪˈkɑːlədʒɪst

Definition

  1. n. a specialist in psychology; someone who studies the human mind and behavior

  2. n. a professional who diagnoses and treats mental health disorders

Structure
psycho <mind, from Greek *psyche*>log <study, from Greek *logos*>ist <noun suffix, denoting a practitioner>
Etymology

The word "psychologist" combines three Greek-derived morphemes:

  1. "Psycho" traces back to psyche (ψυχή), meaning "soul" or "mind" in ancient Greek, later evolving to represent mental processes.
  2. "Log" comes from logos (λόγος), meaning "study" or "reason," commonly used in scientific disciplines (e.g., biology, geology).
  3. The suffix "-ist" denotes a person specializing in a field, borrowed via Latin -ista.
    The term emerged in the early 19th century as psychology developed into a formal science, reflecting the study (-logy) of the mind (psycho-) by practitioners (-ist).
Examples

  1. The psychologist conducted a series of cognitive tests.

  2. She decided to consult a psychologist to manage her anxiety.

  3. Freud was a pioneering psychologist who studied the unconscious mind.

  4. School psychologists help students with learning difficulties.

  5. His research as a psychologist focuses on memory retention.