Wiktionary
alt. 1 (context psychology English) A psychological strategy used unconsciously by people to cope with harmful or stressful situations. 2 (context evolutionary biology English) An automatic reaction of the body against foreign antibody. n. 1 (context psychology English) A psychological strategy used unconsciously by people to cope with harmful or stressful situations. 2 (context evolutionary biology English) An automatic reaction of the body against foreign antibody.
WordNet
n. (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires [syn: defense reaction, defence mechanism, defence reaction, defense, defence]
Usage examples of "defense mechanism".
Sigmund Freud described ego defense mechanisms, the processes were primarily unconscious.