What does suppression mean?
Suppression means the act or process of stopping something from being expressed, published, or allowed to continue. It is frequently used for the restriction of information, political dissent, protests, or creative expression, often implying that an authority is deliberately preventing public discussion. In medical and scientific contexts, it describes the reduction or inhibition of a symptom or bodily process. The word can therefore suggest either deliberate censorship or the neutral limitation of an activity or reaction. It is related to, but more general than, concealment, which focuses chiefly on keeping something hidden. Understanding suppression is useful because it describes both the mechanisms by which information or speech may be controlled and the way physical or emotional processes can be held in check.
nounThe act or process of preventing something from being expressed, published, performed, or otherwise allowed to occur. It can also refer to the reduction or stopping of an activity, sensation, or bodily process.
- The act of preventing information, opinions, protests, or other forms of expression from being published or taking place.
- The act of restraining or stopping an activity, process, or reaction.
- The reduction or stopping of a physical symptom or bodily function.
"The report criticized the suppression of environmental data that had made the scale of the pollution difficult to assess."
"Journalists protested the suppression of reports about corruption in the ministry."
"The medication helped with the suppression of her severe headaches."
Usually plural when referring to multiple instances of preventing, restraining, or inhibiting something.
"The report documented repeated suppressions of scientific findings."
Suppression is the quiet art of making something disappear before it can be seen, heard, or discussed.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does suppression come from?
Suppression comes from Latin suppressio, a noun formed from suppressus, the past participle of supprimere. The Latin root combines sup-, meaning “under,” and premere, meaning “to press,” giving the original sense of pressing something down or keeping it down. English borrowed the word in the early 17th century, initially in contexts involving pressing down, concealment, or restraint. Related English forms such as suppress and suppressive continue to reflect the same Latin origin.
Related word forms
How suppression is actually used
The word is commonly formal and may suggest deliberate control by an authority or institution. In medical contexts, it is often used for the reduction or inhibition of a symptom, process, or bodily function.
Easily confused with suppression
Suppression generally means preventing something from appearing or occurring, whereas repression most often means holding back emotions, thoughts, or impulses, though the terms can overlap in psychological contexts.
Concealment describes keeping something hidden, while suppression usually involves preventing information, expression, or an activity from taking place.