First Known Use: circa 1811
Dictionary
paranoia
noun para·noia \ˌper-ə-ˈnȯi-ə, ˌpa-rə-\
medical : a serious mental illness that causes you to falsely believe that other people are trying to harm you
: an unreasonable feeling that people are trying to harm you, do not like you, etc.
Full Definition of PARANOIA
1
: a psychosis characterized by systematized delusions of persecution or grandeur usually without hallucinations
2
: a tendency on the part of an individual or group toward excessive or irrational suspiciousness and distrustfulness of others
— para·noi·ac \-ˈnȯi-ˌak, -ˈnȯi-ik\ also para·noic \-ˈnȯi(-i)k, -ˈnō-ik\ adjective or noun
— para·noi·cal·ly \-ˈnȯi(-i)-k(ə-)lē, -ˈnō-i-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
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Origin of PARANOIA
New Latin, from Greek, madness, from paranous demented, from para- + nous mind
Other Psychology Terms
Medical Dictionary
paranoia
noun para·noia \ˌpar-ə-ˈnȯi-ə\
Medical Definition of PARANOIA
1
: a psychosis characterized by systematized delusions of persecution or grandeur usually without hallucinations
2
: a tendency on the part of an individual or group toward excessive or irrational suspiciousness and distrustfulness of others
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