noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   The process of making something external, or visible from the outside. countable, uncountable
2. 2
   embodying in an outward form wordnet
3. 3
   A physical thing that typifies an abstract thing; an embodiment or personalization. countable, uncountable
4. 4
   attributing to outside causes wordnet
5. 5
   In Freudian psychology, an unconscious defense mechanism by which an individual "projects" his or her own internal characteristics onto the outside world or other people. countable, uncountable

Synonyms

All synonyms

actualityexteriorisationexteriorizationexternalisationextrapolationprojection

Etymology

From externalize + -ation.

Related phrases

defense mechanism

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.