fixation
noun
fix·a·tion
fik-ˈsā-shən 
a
: a persistent concentration of libidinal energies upon objects characteristic of psychosexual stages of development preceding the genital stage
b
: stereotyped behavior (as in response to frustration)
c
: an obsessive or unhealthy preoccupation or attachment
Examples of fixation in a Sentence
their weight is an unfortunate fixation for many teenagers
Recent Examples on the Web
Performing across two consecutive weekends, people in their finest festival wear gather to dance in the open field, hold their barricade spot secure for the night’s headliner and possibly discover their next musical fixation.
—
Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2025
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Hugh Kellenberger’s excellent column on Viktor Hovland and his fixation on perfectionism.
—Chris Branch, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
Yet many college applicants persist in their fixation on gaining admission to the most selective schools.
—Sarah Hernholm, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Hitchcock’s fixation on the falsely accused found a natural home in the spy genre, as did his technical gifts as a crafter of suspense sequences, which explains why his name turns up on this list more than any other director’s.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fixation
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Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2025
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Hugh Kellenberger’s excellent column on Viktor Hovland and his fixation on perfectionism.
—Chris Branch, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
Yet many college applicants persist in their fixation on gaining admission to the most selective schools.
—Sarah Hernholm, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Hitchcock’s fixation on the falsely accused found a natural home in the spy genre, as did his technical gifts as a crafter of suspense sequences, which explains why his name turns up on this list more than any other director’s.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fixation
Cite this Entry
“Fixation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fixation. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fixation
noun
fix·a·tion
fik-ˈsā-shən
1
: the act, process, or result of fixing
2
: a state of concern or attachment especially when abnormal and lasting for a long time
Medical Definition
fixation
noun
fix·a·tion
fik-ˈsā-shən
1
a
: the act or an instance of focusing the eyes upon an object
b
: a persistent concentration of libidinal energies upon objects characteristic of psychosexual stages of development preceding the genital stage
c
: stereotyped behavior (as in response to frustration)
d
: an obsessive or unhealthy preoccupation or attachment
2
: the immobilization of the parts of a fractured bone especially by the use of various metal attachments
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