WordGarden.ioregression
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /rɪɡrˈɛʃən/
US
- /rəˈɡrɛʃən/
Meanings
Noun
a return to an earlier or worse state after progress
a statistical method for modeling relationships between variables
a software failure where a change makes something work worse again
Beyond the definition
Imagine a perfectly trained dog suddenly starting to chew on the furniture again; that's a classic example of regression. It means moving back to an earlier, often less developed or less effective state. We usually use the word when someone's behavior or condition seems to slip after a period of improvement, such as a patient having a setback in recovery. But it is not always negative. Sometimes it simply means going back to an older style or a more basic way of doing something, like a musician returning to their roots by recording a raw, acoustic album.
The word comes from the Latin regredi, meaning "to go back." You will often meet it in psychology to describe someone returning to childlike behavior under stress, or in everyday language when people talk about a setback or a move in the wrong direction. Whether in health, habits, or history, regression is about going backward.
Regression refers to the act of returning to a previous state, typically one that is less complex, mature, or advanced. While it can describe a simple mental return to the past—such as regressing into childhood memories while visiting your old school—it is most frequently used to describe a decline or a "sliding back" after progress has been made.
In psychology, regression is a well-known defense mechanism in which a person returns to an earlier stage of development to cope with stress or trauma; for instance, an older child might start thumb-sucking again when a new sibling arrives. In a medical context, the term can be nuanced. While it often refers to a loss of recovered abilities, "tumor regression" is actually a positive sign, meaning that a tumor is shrinking.
Beyond biology and behavior, regression is also a key term in statistics. "Regression analysis" is a method used to study the relationship between variables. It helps researchers estimate how one factor, such as education level, is connected to another, such as income, and it is often used to make predictions from data.
So, whether it is a psychological retreat, a medical shift, a deliberate artistic choice to return to basics, or a complex statistical calculation, regression always involves a movement toward a previous or fundamental state.
Examples
- 1
Business trends
After a few strong months, the company saw a regression in sales.
- 2
Medical recovery
Her knee was getting better, but the doctor noticed a slight regression after the fall.
- 3
Software update
The latest update fixed the crash but caused a regression in battery life.
- Patternintroduce/cause a regression
make something work worse again after it had improved
- 4
Psychology
Under extreme stress, some patients may go into regression and act much younger than they are.
- Phrasego into regression
return to more childlike behavior
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Statistics
The researchers used linear regression to examine the relationship between income and health.
- Domainlinear regression
a statistical method for studying how things are connected
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- retrogression
- deterioration
- degeneration
Contrast
Do not confuse
- statistical regression
Used with (collocations)
- regression to an earlier state
- a regression in behavior
- signs of regression
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- regressionnoun
Forms
- regressionspluralnoun