Phrase guide

Rorschach test

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈɹɔːʃɑːk tɛst/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈɹɔːʃæk tɛst/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ˈɹɔɹˌʃæk tɛst/
  • General-American: /ˈɹɔɹʃək tɛst/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A method of psychological evaluation that uses a person's interpretations of inkblots or similar images to discover information concerning his or her personality, emotional functioning, or unconscious mind.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, psychology, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: blot test, inkblot test, Rorschach, Rorschach inkblot test

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Any test of an individual's perception of phenomena.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Something which reveals the intent or belief of a person.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a projective tests using bilaterally symmetrical inkblots; subjects state what they see in the inkblot

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Rorschach, inkblot test

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: projective test, projective device, projective technique

History

Etymology

Named after Swiss psychologist Hermann Rorschach (1884–1922), its creator.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: test de Rorschach — method of psychological evaluation that uses subject's interpretations of inkblots
  • Estonian: Rorschachi test — method of psychological evaluation that uses subject's interpretations of inkblots
  • Finnish: Rorschachin testi — method of psychological evaluation that uses subject's interpretations of inkblots
  • French: test de Rorschach — method of psychological evaluation that uses subject's interpretations of inkblots
  • German: Rorschachtest — method of psychological evaluation that uses subject's interpretations of inkblots
  • Greek: τεστ Ρόρσαχ (test Rórsach) — method of psychological evaluation that uses subject's interpretations of inkblots
  • Hungarian: Rorschach-teszt — method of psychological evaluation that uses subject's interpretations of inkblots
  • Polish: test Rorschacha — method of psychological evaluation that uses subject's interpretations of inkblots
  • Polish: test plam atramentowych — method of psychological evaluation that uses subject's interpretations of inkblots
  • Portuguese: teste de Rorschach — method of psychological evaluation that uses subject's interpretations of inkblots
  • Russian: тест Ро́ршаха (test Róršaxa) — method of psychological evaluation that uses subject's interpretations of inkblots
  • Spanish: test de Rorschach — method of psychological evaluation that uses subject's interpretations of inkblots
  • Swedish: rorschachtest — method of psychological evaluation that uses subject's interpretations of inkblots
  • Turkish: Rorschach testi — method of psychological evaluation that uses subject's interpretations of inkblots