psycho

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A person who is psychotic, psychopathic, or (broadly) otherwise insane.

Register: derogatory, slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

The loony bin up on the hill is full of psychos.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A person who acts in a bizarre or dangerous manner.

Register: derogatory, slang

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “psycho” mean?

A person who is psychotic, psychopathic, or (broadly) otherwise insane.

Is “psycho” formal or informal?

psycho is generally derogatory, slang.