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
Synonyms
Examples of fixation in a Sentence
their weight is an unfortunate fixation for many teenagers
Recent Examples on the Web
The third goal of the era’s fixation on prehistory was the most selfish.
—
Stefanos Geroulanos, Twin Cities, 10 Apr. 2024
Spooked by Tom’s growing fixation on him, Dickie tries to shake off his guest but only succeeds in awakening Tom’s inner psychopath.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 4 Apr. 2024
Many people continue to project their fixations about age and appearance on Middleton’s body.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2024
Bali has been a fixation of the Western imagination since the early 20th century.
—Annie Daly, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2024
Lapping up bathwater marks only the beginning of Oliver’s alarming fixation on Felix and his wealthy family (played by Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, Alison Oliver and Archie Madekwe).
—Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 19 Jan. 2024
Father fixations come up a lot in these highly fraught situations.
—Andrew O’Hagan, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
Mindhunter is, in many ways, the perfect distillation of Fincher’s detailed approach to cinema and his fixation on the minds of murderers.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 31 Mar. 2024
Almost immediately upon her release, Blanchard became the internet’s latest fixation, spurred on by her unhinged comments defending her husband, Ryan Anderson, against trolls on Instagram.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 29 Mar. 2024
Stefanos Geroulanos, Twin Cities, 10 Apr. 2024
Spooked by Tom’s growing fixation on him, Dickie tries to shake off his guest but only succeeds in awakening Tom’s inner psychopath.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 4 Apr. 2024
Many people continue to project their fixations about age and appearance on Middleton’s body.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2024
Bali has been a fixation of the Western imagination since the early 20th century.
—Annie Daly, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2024
Lapping up bathwater marks only the beginning of Oliver’s alarming fixation on Felix and his wealthy family (played by Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, Alison Oliver and Archie Madekwe).
—Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 19 Jan. 2024
Father fixations come up a lot in these highly fraught situations.
—Andrew O’Hagan, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
Mindhunter is, in many ways, the perfect distillation of Fincher’s detailed approach to cinema and his fixation on the minds of murderers.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 31 Mar. 2024
Almost immediately upon her release, Blanchard became the internet’s latest fixation, spurred on by her unhinged comments defending her husband, Ryan Anderson, against trolls on Instagram.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 29 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fixation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near fixation
Cite this Entry
“Fixation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fixation. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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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