Reinforcement
//ˌɹiːɪnˈfɔːsmənt// noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act, process, or state of reinforcing or being reinforced. uncountable
"If a journalist speaks for herself, let her say so. If something is true of "a few" or "some" or "many" or, even, "most" of us, then let her say that. It may cost a few extra modifiers, but it will prevent the unconscionable reinforcement of the myth that we are all alike."
- 2 a military operation (often involving new supplies of men and materiel) to strengthen a military force or aid in the performance of its mission wordnet
- 3 A thing that reinforces. countable
"There's a website that can be a good learning reinforcement."
- 4 an act performed to strengthen approved behavior wordnet
- 5 Additional troops or materiel sent to support a military action. countable, in-plural, uncountable
"Send in the reinforcements!"
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 a device designed to provide additional strength wordnet
- 7 The process whereby a behavior with desirable consequences comes to be repeated. uncountable
- 8 (psychology) a stimulus that strengthens or weakens the behavior that produced it wordnet
- 9 A small round white sticker placed around a punched hole in a piece of paper to prevent the binder's rings from tearing through the paper. countable, uncountable
- 10 information that makes more forcible or convincing wordnet
Example
More examples"If you want to form a new habit, positive reinforcement works best."
Etymology
From reinforce + -ment.
Related phrases
More for "reinforcement"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.