1. (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
   "Repression is a common defence reaction used to cope with traumatic memories"; "Repression is a common defence reaction used to cope with traumatic memories";
   - defense mechanism [US], defense reaction [US], defence mechanism [Brit, Cdn], defense [US], defence [Brit, Cdn]

Type of: process, psychoanalytic process, unconscious process