ANAL RETENTIVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does anal retentive mean? 

• ANAL RETENTIVE (adjective)
  The adjective ANAL RETENTIVE has 1 sense:

1. a stage in psychosexual development when the child's interest is concentrated on the anal region; fixation at this stage is said to result in orderliness, meanness, stubbornness, compulsiveness, etc.

  Familiarity information: ANAL RETENTIVE used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ANAL RETENTIVE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A stage in psychosexual development when the child's interest is concentrated on the anal region; fixation at this stage is said to result in orderliness, meanness, stubbornness, compulsiveness, etc.

Synonyms:

anal; anal retentive

Domain category:

analysis; depth psychology; psychoanalysis (a set of techniques for exploring underlying motives and a method of treating various mental disorders; based on the theories of Sigmund Freud)