rə̇ˈpreshən, rēˈp- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English repressioun ability to repress, from Medieval Latin repression-, repressio, from Late Latin, suppression, from Latin repressus (past participle of reprimere to check, repress) + -ion-, -io -ion
1.
a. : the action of repressing or the state of being repressed
relentless repression of all Christian sects — R.H.Jackson
auxiliary units dealing with vice repression — F.A.Ogg & P.O.Ray
repression of unpopular opinions
b. : an instance of repressing
religious wars and the repressions which followed — G.C.Sellery
racial repressions are more harmful to well-being — Charles Abrams
2.
a. : a process or mechanism of ego defense whereby wishes or impulses that are incapable of fulfillment are kept from or made inaccessible to consciousness except in disguised form (as conversion in neurosis or sublimation or symbolization in normality)
b. : an idea, memory, or experience that has been extruded from consciousness into the unconscious — contrasted with suppression ; compare mechanism of defense