# suppression

/səˈpɹɛʃən/ (US) · /səpɹˈɛʃən/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. stopping by force

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of using force to stop something from happening or being known.

For teachers: the forceful prevention of an action, process, or the public disclosure of information.

- The government was criticized for the suppression of free speech during the protests.
- The systematic suppression of dissent within the occupied territories led to a significant humanitarian crisis that drew international condemnation.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'of'.

### 2. hiding feelings

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the act of choosing to ignore or hide a difficult thought or feeling.

For teachers: the conscious exclusion of painful or socially unacceptable impulses, thoughts, or memories from the mind.

- The suppression of his anger eventually led to a lot of stress.
- Psychologists distinguish between suppression, which is a conscious effort, and repression, which occurs at an unconscious level.

Teaching tip: In psychology, emphasize that suppression is a deliberate choice, unlike repression which is automatic.

### 3. military fire

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

firing weapons at an enemy to stop them from moving or firing back.

For teachers: tactical fire intended to degrade the performance of an enemy force below the level needed to fulfill its mission.

- The squad provided suppression so their teammates could move to safety.
- Effective suppression requires a high volume of accurate fire to ensure the enemy remains behind cover during the infantry advance.

### 4. medical/biological

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the act of stopping a natural process in the body, like an allergy or a cough.

For teachers: the inhibition of a physiological process or the activity of an organ or system.

- The medication resulted in the suppression of her immune system.
- The clinical trial focused on the long-term suppression of viral replication in patients who had not responded to traditional therapies.

## Examples

- The suppression of the news caused a public outcry.
- The doctor recommended medication for the suppression of the patient's cough to help them sleep through the night.
- Historians argue that the systematic suppression of local languages was a primary tool used by the empire to maintain cultural hegemony over its distant colonies.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.