'parapsychological' originates from Greek and New Latin elements, specifically the prefix 'para-' (from Greek 'para', παρά) and 'psyche' (Greek 'psykhē', ψυχή), where 'para-' meant 'beside, beyond' and 'psykhē' meant 'soul, mind'.

'parapsychological' developed from the Modern English noun 'parapsychology' (coined in the late 19th to early 20th century from 'para-' + 'psychology') with the adjectival suffix '-ical' to form 'parapsychological'.

Initially it meant 'apart from or beside psychology' (i.e., phenomena studied alongside or beyond mainstream psychology); over time it came to mean specifically 'relating to the study or claims of psychic/psychic-like phenomena' and is used to describe research, claims, or phenomena thought to be paranormal.