suppression

American  

[suh-presh-uhn] / səˈprɛʃ ən /

noun

1. the act of suppressing.

2. the state of being suppressed.

3. Psychoanalysis. conscious inhibition of an impulse.

4. Botany. the absence of parts normally or usually present due to the action of frost, disease, or insects.

5. Radio, Electronics. the elimination of a component of a varying emission, as the elimination of a frequency or group of frequencies from a signal.

6. Electricity. the reduction or elimination of irregular current oscillations or frequencies in a circuit.

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suppression British  

/ səˈprɛʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of suppressing or the condition of being suppressed

2. psychoanal the conscious avoidance of unpleasant thoughts Compare repression

3. electronics the act or process of suppressing a frequency, oscillation, etc

4. biology the failure of an organ or part to develop

5. med the cessation of any physiological process

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Other Word Forms

• nonsuppression
  noun
• resuppression
  noun
• self-suppression
  noun

Etymology

Origin of suppression

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin suppressiōn-, stem of suppressiō “a pressing under”; equivalent to suppress + -ion

Explanation

Suppression is the act of keeping something from happening — like the suppression of your laughter when your best friend passes you a funny note in class. In psychology, suppression is the act of stopping yourself from thinking or feeling something. It is generally presumed to be ineffective because even if you suppress or hold back an emotion, like anger, that feeling returns with a vengeance. Suppression can also mean the act of holding something else back, like the suppression of a book from publication because you don't like its message.

Example Sentences

The UN Security Council last year authorised a new international Gang Suppression Force tasked with neutralising the gangs.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

In January, Metropolitan’s Crime Suppression Team deployed two decoy packages, each containing AirTags on the steps of a private residence.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 26, 2024

Suppression, through preferentially removing low- and moderate-severity fire, also raised average fire severity by an amount equivalent to a century of fuel accumulation or climate change.

From Science Daily • Mar. 25, 2024

Acting Police Chief Pamela Smith said in August the department was conducting a Robbery Suppression Initiative in areas where armed stick-ups and car thefts were occurring at a higher rate.

From Washington Times • Sep. 26, 2023

Apart from the Suppression of Communism Act, two laws passed in 1950 formed the cornerstones of apartheid: the Population Registration Act and the Group Areas Act.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• elimination
• overthrow