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Noun: defense mechanism  di'fens 'me-ku,ni-zum
Usage: US (elsewhere: defence mechanism)
  1. (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
    - defense reaction [US], defence mechanism [Brit, Cdn], defence reaction [Brit, Cdn], defense [US], defence [Brit, Cdn]

Derived forms: defense mechanisms

Type of: process, psychoanalytic process, unconscious process

Encyclopedia: Defense mechanism

Nearest

defense attorney
defense contractor
Defense Department
defense force
Defense Information Systems Agency
Defense Intelligence Agency
defense laboratory
defense lawyer
defense lawyers
Defense Logistics Agency
defense mechanism
defense policy
defense program
defense reaction
Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service
Defense Secretary
defense system
defense team
Defense Technical Information Center
defenseless
defenselessly