repression
Americannoun
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the act of repressing; state of being repressed.
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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.
noun
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the act or process of repressing or the condition of being repressed
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psychoanal the subconscious rejection of thoughts and impulses that conflict with conventional standards of conduct See suppression
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of repression
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English repressioun, from Medieval Latin repressiōn- (stem of repressiō ), Late Latin: “suppression”; see repress, -ion
Explanation
Repression is a kind of holding back or holding down. There's repression of feelings (willing yourself not to cry), as well as social repression (where the government limits freedom or shuts out certain groups). Repression is like suppression: you restrain, inhibit, or subdue something. Not allowing women to vote is a perfect example of political repression. If you have trouble expressing your feelings and keep things bottled up, then emotional repression is a big part of your personality. People often turn to repression because they're scared of what will happen if they say what's on their mind. Unfortunately, political and emotional repression can often lead to anger and even violence.
Vocabulary lists containing repression
"The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin
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"The Story of an Hour"
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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., "Beyond Vietnam" (1967)
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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.
Libya has long faced repression and poverty, both during and after Gaddafi's rule.
From Barron's • May 26, 2026
Like many activists the BBC has heard from in recent weeks, Shirin expects repression to intensify if the war ends with the regime still in place.
From BBC • May 10, 2026
The reasons for John’s ferocious emotional repression are not fully explored, but they seem intrinsic to his grimly sustaining notion of island heritage.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026
Last month, a report from human rights campaign group Amnesty said the World Cup risked becoming "a stage for repression and a platform for authoritarian practices".
From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026
Even as convict leasing faded away, strategic forms of exploitation and repression emerged anew.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
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.
