exhibiting a tendency toward excessive neatness and obstinacy in how things are done, thought to be tied to the anal stage of development in Freudian psychology
Word Origin
1958-62
Usage Note
anal retentive, n; anal retention, n; anal-retentiveness, n
anal-retentiveadj. Indicating personality traits, such as meticulousness, avarice, and obstinacy, originating in habits, attitudes, or values associated with infantile pleasure in retention of feces.
