- an artificially induced state of relaxation and concentration in which deeper parts of the mind become more accessible: used clinically to reduce reaction to pain, to encourage free association, etc
See also autohypnosis
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
hyp•no•sis /hɪpˈnoʊsɪs/USA pronunciation
n., pl. -ses /-siz/.USA pronunciation
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Psychology[uncountable] a trance-like state in which a person is more likely to respond to suggestions from someone else than when fully awake and aware.
- Psychologyhypnotism (defs. 1, 2).
hyp•no•sis
(hip nō′sis),USA pronunciation n., pl. -ses (-sēz).USA pronunciation
- Psychologyan artificially induced trance state resembling sleep, characterized by heightened susceptibility to suggestion.
- Psychologyhypnotism.
- hypn(otic) + -osis 1875–80
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
hypnosis /hɪpˈnəʊsɪs/ n ( pl -ses /-siːz/)
'induce hypnosis' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):