the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
psy•chi•a•try /sɪˈkaɪətri, saɪ-/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Psychiatrythe branch of medicine concerned with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders.
psy•chi•a•try
(si kī′ə trē, sī-),USA pronunciation n.
psy•chi•at•ric
(sī′kē a′trik),USA pronunciation psy′chi•at′ri•cal, adj.
psy′chi•at′ri•cal•ly, adv.
- Psychiatry, Biologythe practice or science of diagnosing and treating mental disorders.
- 1840–50; psych- + -iatry
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