projection.

1. The attribution to another person of feelings, motives or qualities arising from one’s own experience.

2. An estimate of future conditions or values based on stated information and assumptions.

3. The formation or display of an image on a screen or other surface through projected light.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• psychological projection
• projection of motives

On the page

He recognized projection when he read his own distrust into her neutral reply.

The interpretation might reflect projection, but the narrator had too little evidence to be certain.

Usage notes

Primary category: psychology / character / human behavior. Forms: Singular projection; plural projections. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: characterization, motivation, interpersonal behavior, self-evaluation. Disciplines: psychology, human behavior, character writing. Commonness: moderately common.