psychobabble
Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word psychobabble. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word psychobabble, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say psychobabble in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word psychobabble you have here. The definition of the word psychobabble will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofpsychobabble, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From psycho- + babble. First use appears c. 1975 in the publications of R.D. Rosen.
Pronunciation
Noun
psychobabble (uncountable)
- (somewhat derogatory) The jargon of psychology and psychoanalysis, especially when used pretentiously to discuss mundane issues.
- 1977 December 3, “Psychobabble”, in Time:
- The psychological patter of the '70s is as inescapable as Muzak and just as numbing: Are you relating? Going through heavy changes? In touch with yourself and doing your own thing? Are you up front, or just hung up and uptight? Boston Writer R.D. (for Richard Dean) Rosen calls it psychobabble, and in his new book by that title (Atheneum, $8.95) sees America awash in soggy therapeutic clichés.
- 2007, Max Brooks, “Saving Mel Brooks”, in Mens Health, section 22.2:
- He didn't want to hear any new-age psychobabble, like " find your inner peace."
Verb
psychobabble (third-person singular simple present psychobabbles, present participle psychobabbling, simple past and past participle psychobabbled)
- (intransitive) To speak or converse using this kind of jargon.