Word
fixation
Phoneticsfix·a·tion, stress on the second syllable
US/fɪkˈseɪʃən/
UK/fɪksˈeɪʃən/
Countable & uncountable Psychology
Definition
n. an unhealthy or very strong interest in someone or something that you cannot stop thinking about. It is like being stuck on one idea or person.
n. an obsessive or unhealthy preoccupation with a specific person, object, or idea. Often used in psychological contexts to describe a failure to progress beyond a particular stage of development.
Examples
“He has a strange fixation on old clocks.”
“The media's fixation on the celebrity's private life often overshadowed her professional achievements.”
“The architect's career was defined by a lifelong fixation on natural light, leading to structures that prioritized glass and open spaces over traditional solid walls.”
Examples
simple
“He has a strange fixation on old clocks.”
contextual
“The media's fixation on the celebrity's private life often overshadowed her professional achievements.”
complex
“The architect's career was defined by a lifelong fixation on natural light, leading to structures that prioritized glass and open spaces over traditional solid walls.”
Usage
Often takes the preposition 'on' or 'with' to indicate the object of interest.
Pitfall
his fixation for the game
his fixation on the game
Fixation typically collocates with 'on' or 'with', not 'for'.
Real-World Examples
“That fixation with sleep is actually making people's sleep worse, they warn.” “On one level, Trump’s tariff fixation is a mystery.” Etymology
From Old French fixation. By surface analysis, fix + -ation.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/fixation