defense mechanism

American  

noun

1. Physiology. the defensive reaction of an organism, as against a pathogenic microorganism.

2. Psychology. an unconscious process, as denial, that protects an individual from unacceptable or painful ideas or impulses.

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defense mechanism Cultural  

1. In psychology, a Freudian term referring to an unconscious avoidance of something that produces anxiety or some other unpleasant emotion. For example, someone who blots out the memory of a terrible accident is using a defense mechanism. Regression and sublimation are common defense mechanisms.

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Etymology

Origin of defense mechanism

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

defense mechanism

Together, the findings reveal a previously unknown natural defense mechanism within the human body.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 3, 2026

For Divon, Pallywood is less a conspiracy theory than a psychological defense mechanism.

From Slate ● May 30, 2025

“It was a defense mechanism because of my past history.”

From Salon ● Apr. 27, 2025

“I’m ready to take care of business, as a defense mechanism, because it’s gotten to the point where you have to take some responsibility for your own safety.”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 9, 2024

We had created this idea of ourselves as a defense mechanism to survive in the world we were living in.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah