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Noun: compartmentalization  kum,paa(r)t,men-t(u)l-u'zey-shun [N. Amer], ,kóm,paa(r)t,men-t(u)l-I'zey-shun [Brit]
  1. The act of distributing things into classes or categories of the same type
    "Her compartmentalization of tasks improved workflow efficiency";
    - categorization, categorisation [Brit], classification, compartmentalisation [Brit], assortment
     
  2. (psychology) a defence mechanism where thoughts, feelings, or memories are separated into isolated sections in the mind
    "Her compartmentalization allowed her to function at work despite personal trauma";
    - compartmentalisation [Brit]

Derived forms: compartmentalizations

Type of: disassociation, dissociation, grouping

Encyclopedia: Compartmentalization