psychohistory

noun

psy·​cho·​his·​to·​ry ˈsī-kō-ˌhi-st(ə-)rē How to pronounce psychohistory (audio)
: historical analysis or interpretation using psychological and psychoanalytic methods
also : a work of history using such methods
psychohistorian noun
psychohistorical adjective

Examples of psychohistory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The databases of suicide attacks that are now available, although useful for some kinds of study, rarely include details about recruits’ personal lives or their psychohistory. Jessica Stern, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2013 But psychohistory is science fiction: in reality, human decisions are opaque, and can be dramatically influenced by events and memes that no algorithm could ever predict. Dan Rockmore, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2024 In a place where both psychohistory and predestination exist, how much does personal choice matter? Marah Eakin, WIRED, 14 July 2023 Hari, Gaal, and Salvor discover a colony of Mentalics with special abilities that threaten to alter psychohistory itself. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 June 2023 Hari, Gaal, and Salvor discover a colony of Mentalics with psionic abilities that threaten to alter psychohistory itself. James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 May 2023 The Foundation confronts barbarian kingdoms, imperial revanchists, and shadowy telepaths who elude psychohistory’s grasp. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2021 By the end of the show’s second episode, just as psychohistory must have predicted, that fate comes to pass. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2021 Jared Harris plays Hari Seldon, a brilliant professor who develops the field of psychohistory. Jeff Ewing, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of psychohistory was in 1929

Dictionary Entries Near psychohistory

Cite this Entry

“Psychohistory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychohistory. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!