word association

American  

noun

1. stimulation of an associative pattern by a word.

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word association British  

noun

1. an early method of psychoanalysis in which the patient thinks of the first word that comes into consciousness on hearing a given word. In this way it was claimed that aspects of the unconscious could be revealed before defence mechanisms intervene

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

word association

It appears that these inventive students took "soc" from the middle of the word "association" and added "-er," producing "soccer".

From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026

The researchers then explored whether AI success on this simple word association task could extend to more complex and realistic creative activities.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 25, 2026

I stood on one foot while tracking a swinging ball with my eyes, I did word association while walking backward, and I completed memory exercises.

From Slate ● Mar. 17, 2024

Then when pressed, he’s a font of nonsensical word association.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2023

The common use of the word association for almost every kind of connection has rendered this subject difficult; from which inaccuracy I fear some parts of this work are not exempt.

From Zoonomia, Vol. II Or, the Laws of Organic Life by Erasmus Darwin