# regression

/ɹəˈɡɹɛʃən/ (US) · /ɹɪɡɹˈɛʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/regression
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. returning to a previous state

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of returning to a previous or less advanced state.

For teachers: the process of returning to a former or less developed state, often implying a decline in quality or complexity.

- The country saw a regression in democratic values after the new laws were passed.
- Sociologists noted a significant regression in social mobility within the region following the collapse of the local manufacturing industry.

### 2. statistical relationship

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · Academic

a mathematical way to see how one thing affects another.

For teachers: a statistical method for estimating the relationships among variables, typically to determine how a dependent variable changes when independent variables vary.

- The researcher used a linear regression to predict house prices based on their size.
- By performing a multiple regression analysis, the economists were able to isolate the impact of interest rates on consumer spending patterns.

### 3. software bug returning

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

when a computer problem that was fixed before happens again after a new update.

For teachers: the reappearance of a previously resolved functional defect following a code change or software update.

- The latest update caused a regression that broke the login screen.
- The development team implemented automated regression testing to ensure that new features did not inadvertently compromise existing system stability.

### 4. shrinking of a growth

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

the process of a tumor or a disease getting smaller or less serious.

For teachers: the lessening or disappearance of the symptoms or physical size of a disease, particularly a tumor.

- The doctors were pleased to see a regression of the tumor after the first round of treatment.
- Spontaneous regression of this particular type of carcinoma is rare, making the patient's recovery a subject of significant clinical interest.

### 5. psychological return to childhood

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Academic

behaving like a younger person or a child, often because of stress.

For teachers: a defense mechanism leading to the temporary or long-term reversion of the ego to an earlier stage of development.

- Under extreme pressure, some people show signs of emotional regression.
- The therapist identified the patient's sudden outbursts as a form of psychological regression triggered by childhood trauma.

## Examples

- The patient showed signs of regression after the treatment stopped.
- The latest software update caused a regression, breaking several features that had been working perfectly for months.
- Linear regression analysis revealed a strong correlation between the amount of rainfall and the annual crop yield, allowing the researchers to model future agricultural outcomes.

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