repression

UK: /rɪˈprɛʃ^ən/ US: /rɪˈprɛʃən/ ,(ri presh′ən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•pres•sion  (ri presh′ən), n. 

1. the act of repressing;
   state of being repressed.
2. Psychiatry the rejection from consciousness of painful or disagreeable ideas, memories, feelings, or impulses.

• Medieval Latin repressiōn- (stem of repressiō), Late Latin: suppression. See repress, -ion
• Middle English repressioun 1325–75

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

repression / rɪˈprɛʃən/ noun

1. the act or process of repressing or the condition of being repressed
2. the subconscious rejection of thoughts and impulses that conflict with conventional standards of conduct
   See suppression2

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•press /rɪˈprɛs/   v. [~ + object]

1. Psychology to check or inhibit (actions or desires):
   repressed a sneeze.
2. to hold down and control (persons) unfairly or evilly:
   to repress one's civil rights.
3. Psychology to keep down or hold back (memories, emotions, or impulses) unconsciously:
   to repress his fantasies.

re•pres•sion /rɪˈprɛʃən/  n. [uncountable]
re•pres•sive, adj. See -press-.