noun
(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
• Syn: ↑defense reaction, ↑defence mechanism, ↑defence reaction, ↑defense, ↑defence
• Topics: ↑psychiatry, ↑psychopathology, ↑psychological medicine
• Hypernyms: ↑psychoanalytic process, ↑process, ↑unconscious process
• Hyponyms:
↑compensation, ↑conversion, ↑denial, ↑displacement, ↑idealization, ↑idealisation, ↑intellectualization, ↑intellectualisation, ↑isolation, ↑projection, ↑rationalization, ↑rationalisation, ↑reaction formation, ↑regression, ↑repression
* * *
(US) (or Brit defence mechanism) noun, pl ⋯ -nisms [count]
technical
1 : a process in the brain that makes you forget or ignore painful or disturbing thoughts, situations, etc.
She is projecting her anger on you as a defense mechanism.
2 : a reaction in your body that protects against disease or danger
the cell's normal defense mechanisms against infection
Useful english dictionary. 2012.