Pavlovian

American

[pav-loh-vee-uhn, -law-, -lov-ee-] / pævˈloʊ vi ən, -ˈlɔ-, -ˈlɒv i- /

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of Pavlov or his work, especially of experiments in which he elicited predictable responses from laboratory animals.

Pavlovian British

/ pævˈləʊvɪən /

adjective

of or relating to the work of Ivan Pavlov
(of a reaction or response) automatic; involuntary

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Pavlovian

First recorded in 1925–30; Pavlov + -ian

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Pavlovian

Both horses were owned by J. Paul Reddam, as is Pavlovian.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026

To better understand this relationship, researchers studied rodent brain tissue and monitored the behavior of rats during Pavlovian cue-reward tests.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 10, 2025

Is the press merely operating in Pavlovian fashion, in the same manner they clean up grammar and usage according to the AP style manual?

From Salon ● Nov. 1, 2024

It’s probably unwise to reach for too much meaning from an assemblage of Pavlovian internet clicks.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 28, 2023

I looked up and, for some sick, Pavlovian reason, flashed her a quick smile.

From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023