Plain English Meaning
Choosing to push something out of your mind on purpose so you can keep functioning, while knowing it is still there to deal with later.
Full Definition
A conscious defense mechanism in which a person deliberately sets aside a troubling thought, feeling, or memory in order to deal with it later. Unlike repression, which is unconscious, suppression is intentional and the person remains aware of what they have set aside.
Context Anchor
Seen in human behavior and instructor discussions, especially when explaining how students may react to stress, fear, embarrassment, or poor performance.
Derivation
From the Latin 'supprimere', meaning 'to press down' (sub- 'under' + premere 'to press'). The image is of deliberately pressing a thought down out of immediate view -- which fits the aviation use: the person knows it is there but has chosen to hold it down for now.
Why Pilots Care
When students suppress confusion instead of clearing it, the underlying barrier remains and can lead to stalled progress or dropout.