APA Dictionary of Psychology

The APA Dictionary of Psychologyopens in new window is a landmark reference with nearly 26,000 entries across 90 subfields of psychology. The first print edition of the APA Dictionary of Psychology was published in 2007, with a second print edition released in 2015 and an online edition in 2018.

The APA Dictionary is intended for researchers, clinicians, students, and professionals working in allied fields such as nursing, counseling, or social work. It is an essential tool for anyone needing reliable and accurate definitions of psychological terminology. Terms are developed with careful consideration to diverse levels of expertise among audiences, recognizing that not all readers engage with psychological terminology from the same foundational knowledge.

The APA Dictionary aligns with APA’s Inclusive Language Guidelines, other APA resources, and American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-5-TR nomenclature.

• A publicly accessible resource available free of charge
• Nearly 26,000 entries providing clear and authoritative definitions spanning the field of psychology
• Search and browse functions for ease of discovery
• Word of the Day presents a new entry each day to help users expand vocabulary in psychology
• Date of last revision to reflect when a term was updated or added
• Thousands of terms are cross-referenced to deepen users’ comprehension of related topics

• Clinical Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Epidemiology and Public Health
• Gender and Sexuality
• Genetics
• Health Psychology
• Neuropsychology
• Social Psychology

Full list of new termsopens in new window

• Download a sample recordopens in new window of the APA Dictionary.
• Access to the MARC record file will be available in summer 2026.

If you have feedback or want to suggest new terms, please contact Customer Engagementopens in new window.