suppression
C1Formal, academic, technical, journalistic.
Definition
Meaning
The act of using force or authority to stop something, or the act of preventing something from being seen, heard, known, or expressed.
Can refer to the conscious or unconscious inhibition of thoughts, feelings, or memories in psychology; the prevention of a bodily process or symptom; or the technical prevention of electrical or mechanical interference.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Carries a strong connotation of an external, deliberate, and forceful act of control or restraint. Often implies something is being held down, back, or prevented from natural expression or occurrence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or pronunciation difference. The word is used identically in both varieties. Minor difference in legal phrasing (e.g., 'suppression of evidence' is more common in US legal contexts, while 'exclusion of evidence' might be used in some UK contexts).
Connotations
Consistently negative in both, implying oppression, censorship, or an unhealthy restraint.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English in legal and political contexts (e.g., voter suppression, suppression of evidence). Equal frequency in medical and technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
suppression of [noun]suppression by [agent][adjective] suppressionVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[none directly with 'suppression'; related idiom: 'sweep under the rug' for suppressing information]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to controlling costs, market competition, or unwanted data (e.g., 'noise suppression in audio equipment', 'cost suppression measures').
Academic
Common in psychology (emotional suppression), history (suppression of rebellions), political science (suppression of rights), and medicine (immune suppression).
Everyday
Used to talk about holding back feelings, stopping a laugh or cough, or controlling weeds in the garden.
Technical
In engineering (vibration/signal suppression), computing (pop-up suppression), firefighting (fire suppression systems), and medicine (appetite suppression).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The government moved to suppress the report before the election.
- He tried to suppress a smirk during the serious meeting.
American English
- The court ordered the defense to not suppress evidence.
- This medication helps suppress the allergic reaction.
adverb
British English
- The news was suppressively reported, with many details omitted.
- [Rarely used]
American English
- The algorithm works suppressively to filter out background noise.
- [Rarely used]
adjective
British English
- The suppressive fire from the artillery allowed the troops to advance.
- He was prescribed a cortisol-suppressive drug.
American English
- The firewall has strong spam-suppressive capabilities.
- The regime's suppressive tactics were widely condemned.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She covered her mouth to suppress a cough.
- The fire suppression system turned on automatically.
- The suppression of the protest led to international criticism.
- He is very good at the suppression of his emotions.
- Historical research often involves uncovering stories that were subject to political suppression.
- The new law aims at the suppression of organised crime in the city.
- The study examined the psychological costs of chronic emotional suppression.
- Engineers developed a novel method for the suppression of aerodynamic noise in the jet's fuselage.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PRESS being held down (SUP-PRESS-ion) on something to keep it from rising up or being seen.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUPPRESSION IS HOLDING DOWN / SUPPRESSION IS PUTTING A LID ON.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'подавление' (часто верно) и 'угнетение' (oppression). 'Suppression' часто одноразовое действие по остановке чего-то, в то время как 'oppression' — это длительная система угнетения. Не переводить как 'депрессия' (depression).
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'suppression' (an act) with 'suppressant' (a substance that does the suppressing, e.g., appetite suppressant).
- Misspelling as 'supression' (one 'p').
- Using it where 'repression' (often subconscious/internal) is more accurate.
Practice
Quiz
In a psychological context, 'suppression' most closely refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In psychology, 'suppression' is a conscious, deliberate effort to put a thought or feeling out of mind. 'Repression' is an unconscious process where distressing memories are blocked automatically. In general use, 'suppression' is broader, while 'repression' often implies a more severe, psychological, or political stifling.
Mostly yes, as it implies force against a natural expression or process. However, in technical contexts (e.g., 'fire suppression', 'noise suppression'), it can be neutral or positive, describing a useful control function.
Yes, the verb is 'to suppress'. 'Suppression' is the noun form (the act or process of suppressing).
A 'suppressant' is a noun for an agent or substance that actively suppresses something (e.g., a cough suppressant, an appetite suppressant). It is related to but distinct from the noun 'suppression'.
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