noun

inhibition

ihn-hih-BIH-shuhn

noun

A feeling of self-consciousness or fear that stops someone acting freely.

"Stage fright is really just an inhibition about performing in front of others."

"The therapy helped him lose his inhibitions around public speaking."

In science, the act of slowing or blocking a process or reaction.

"The enzyme works through the inhibition of bacterial growth."

"Researchers studied the inhibition of the virus by the new drug."

How to Use Inhibition

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA mental block that stops you doing something naturally, or (in science) a slowing-down of some process.

Common pairings

lose your inhibitions sexual inhibition enzyme inhibition

inhibitions plural

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Stage fright is really just an _____ about performing in front of others.

From Latin inhibitio, "a holding back," built from the verb inhibere, "to restrain."

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