Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Language characterized by the often inaccurate use of jargon from psychiatry and psychotherapy.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun using language loaded with psychological terminology

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Coined by Richard Dean Rosen (born 1949), American writer.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From psycho- +‎ babble.

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Examples

  • “Self-esteem is, of course, a term in the modern lexicon of psychobabble, and psychobabble is itself the verbal expression of self-absorption without self-examination [3].”

    A Progressive on the Prairie » Weekend Edition: 4-3 » Print 2010

  • The whole “unfairness of a competent military force” routine psychobabble is presently being used on Israel, and the US is now getting the same treatment.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Drone Warfare and the Harvard National Security Conference 2010

  • Self-esteem is, of course, a term in the modern lexicon of psychobabble, and psychobabble is itself the verbal expression of self-absorption without self-examination.

    ProWomanProLife » 2010 » March 2010

  • “Self-esteem is, of course, a term in the modern lexicon of psychobabble, and psychobabble is itself the verbal expression of self-absorption without self-examination.”

    Weekend Edition: 4-3 « A Progressive on the Prairie 2010

  • Self-esteem is, of course, a term in the modern lexicon of psychobabble, and psychobabble is itself the verbal expression of self-absorption without self-examination.

    ProWomanProLife » Self-esteem, self-respect, self-absorption 2010

  • Such things, of course, because of the innate prejudice and hypocrisy of the liberal press, never get mentioned, since, no doubt, they are merely expressing their inner selves or whatever psychobabble is currently in vogue.

    Chav Hunts 2007

  • Such things, of course, because of the innate prejudice and hypocrisy of the liberal press, never get mentioned, since, no doubt, they are merely expressing their inner selves or whatever psychobabble is currently in vogue.

    Archive 2007-08-12 2007

  • Dr. Phil made an appearance on CNN this past Tuesday night and when asked his, "psychobabble" - opinion of Sarah Palin, he gave her a glowing image but stated he had not yet made up his mind as to who he will vote for.

    Help Dr. Phil 2008

  • All this may turn out to be mere psychobabble, which is what the Bush crowd dismissively concluded about Oliver Stone's film.

    ‘Night, Not-So-Sweet Prince 2008

  • Oh, by the way, excuse me for engaging in what you would call psychobabble, but what I would call stating my feelings the best way I know how.

    Characters in a Play 2004

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