Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

primary gain

American  

noun

Psychiatry.

  1. the removal of emotional conflict or relief of anxiety that is the immediate benefit of a defense mechanism or neurotic symptom.

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.

The primary gain for cash-strapped Sprint will be the short-term infusion of funds as it struggles to whittle down debt.

From Reuters • Oct. 16, 2012

The primary gain: Gemayel was forced to convene a reconciliation conference in Geneva to redistribute national power more fairly.

From Time Magazine Archive

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.