noun
Uncommon
inhibition
ihn-hih-BIH-shuhn
Inhibition (noun) means a feeling of self-consciousness or fear that stops someone acting freely. Example: “Stage fright is really just an inhibition about performing in front of others.”
noun
1
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."
2
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 notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- inhibitions
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Stage fright is really just an _____ about performing in front of others.
Etymology
From Latin inhibitio, "a holding back," built from the verb inhibere, "to restrain."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for inhibition
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for inhibition →
Frequently asked questions
What does “inhibition” mean?
The word “inhibition” means a feeling of self-consciousness or fear that stops someone acting freely. In plain terms, a mental block that stops you doing something naturally, or (in science) a slowing-down of some process.
How do you pronounce “inhibition”?
“Inhibition” is pronounced ihn-hih-BIH-shuhn (/ɪnhɪˈbɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “inhibition” in a sentence?
Here is “inhibition” used in a sentence: “Stage fright is really just an inhibition about performing in front of others.”
What part of speech is “inhibition”?
“Inhibition” is a noun.
Where does the word “inhibition” come from?
The word “inhibition” comes from Latin. From Latin inhibitio, "a holding back," built from the verb inhibere, "to restrain.".
Is “inhibition” a common word?
“Inhibition” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “inhibition” have?
“Inhibition” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a feeling of self-consciousness or fear that stops someone acting freely.
