defence mechanism
Britishnoun
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psychoanal a usually unconscious mental process designed to reduce the anxiety, shame, etc, associated with instinctive desires
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physiol the protective response of the body against disease organisms
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Unlike bees or wasps, which sting as a defence mechanism to protect themselves, a jellyfish sting is an automatic reflex, not a deliberate attack.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
They found Madagascar "hissing" cockroaches, a bulky insect named for its noisy defence mechanism, and dubia cockroaches, an invasive critter bred as a snack for pet lizards.
From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026
Kyran, 26, is now proud of being confident and uplifting others through drag, but says "it did start as a defence mechanism, because it was a way for me to try and survive".
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2024
When it works properly, the p53 protein serves as a powerful defence mechanism against cancer development by ensuring that cells with compromised DNA either get repaired or removed from our body.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 28, 2023
The Fire Crab does, however, have its own defence mechanism: it shoots flames from its rear end when attacked.
From "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by J.K. Rowling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
