regression

noun re·gres·sion \ri-ˈgre-shən\

Definition of REGRESSION

: the act or an instance of regressing

: a trend or shift toward a lower or less perfect state: as

a : progressive decline of a manifestation of disease

b (1) : gradual loss of differentiation and function by a body part especially as a physiological change accompanying aging (2) : gradual loss of memories and acquired skills

c : reversion to an earlier mental or behavioral level

d : a functional relationship between two or more correlated variables that is often empirically determined from data and is used especially to predict values of one variable when given values of the others <the regression of y on x is linear>; specifically : a function that yields the mean value of a random variable under the condition that one or more independent variables have specified values

: retrograde motion

See regression defined for kids

First Known Use of REGRESSION

1597

Related to REGRESSION

Synonyms: retrogression, reversion

Antonyms: advancement, development, evolution, progression

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

Rhymes with REGRESSION

accession, aggression, bull session, compression, concession, confession, depression, digression, discretion, egression, expression, impression, ingression, jam session, obsession, oppression, precession, procession, profession, progression, recession, refreshen, repression, secession, skull session, succession, suppression, transgression

Medical Dictionary

regression

noun re·gres·sion \ri-ˈgresh-ən\

Medical Definition of REGRESSION

: a trend or shift toward a lower, less severe, or less perfect state: as a : progressive decline (as in size or severity) of a manifestation of disease <tumor regression following radiation> b (1) : a gradual loss of differentiation and function by a body part especially as a physiological change accompanying aging <menopausal regression of the ovaries> (2) : gradual loss (as in old age) of memories and acquired skills c : reversion to an earlier mental or behavioral level or to an earlier stage of psychosexual development in response to organismic stress or to suggestion <a protective regression towards childhood—Havelock Ellis>