repression

[ri-presh-uhn]

noun

1. the act of repressing; state of being repressed.

2. Psychology, Psychoanalysis.,  the rejection from consciousness of painful or disagreeable ideas, memories, feelings, or impulses.

   Freud's approach to interpreting early memories emphasizes what is forgotten through the mechanism of repression.

Other Word Forms

• nonrepression noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of repression¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English repressioun, from Medieval Latin repressiōn- (stem of repressiō ), Late Latin: “suppression”; repress, -ion

Example Sentences

Not coincidentally, many of those movies were, subtly or overtly, concerned with women’s bodies and forms of sexist repression.

From Los Angeles Times

It is unclear where the protests will go from here – whether they will continue to spiral into further violence and repression or force the government to cede more ground.

From BBC

His is the authoritarian view that fear and repression will make us safer.

From Los Angeles Times

The death penalty is part of it, but stomping on civil rights is at the heart of it — ruthlessly exploiting anxiety about crime to aim repression at whatever displeases him, from immigration protesters to murderers.

From Los Angeles Times

The UK had in July condemned Hong Kong authorities for dangling cash offers for people who help in the arrest of pro-democracy activists living in Britain, calling the move as "another example of transnational repression".

From BBC

Related Words

• oppression 
• suppression