reinforcement

American  

[ree-in-fawrs-muhnt, -fohrs-] / ˌri ɪnˈfɔrs mənt, -ˈfoʊrs- /

noun

• reinforcements
  plural

1. the act of reinforcing.

2. the state of being reinforced.

3. something that reinforces or strengthens.

4. Often reinforcements. an additional supply of personnel, ships, aircraft, etc., for a military force.

5. a system of steel bars, strands, wires, or mesh for absorbing the tensile and shearing stresses in concrete work.

6. Psychology.

   1. a procedure, as a reward or punishment, that alters a response to a stimulus.

   2. the act of reinforcing a response.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonreinforcement
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• reinforcements
  plural

Etymology

Origin of reinforcement

First recorded in 1600–10; reinforce + -ment

Explanation

Reinforcement is a way to learn and remember things, like a student who repeats the facts he has studied for a test over and over, or the ways we praise children when they share their toys or say "please" and "thank you" — reinforcement of the good manners we want them to use. You’ll often hear the word reinforcement used in relation to a building or other structure that gets additional mechanical support, but the word can be used in a broader sense as well. In addition to strengthening walls, reinforcement can refer to the strengthening or propping up of an argument or a particular point of view. For example, if you show up in class every day and ask questions, that adds reinforcement to the notion that you’re a diligent student.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

reinforcement reinforcements

They echoed Dresser’s recommendation: treats also help with positive reinforcement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

Because some of the benefits appeared to be connected with healthier behaviors, including better eating habits and increased physical activity, the researchers said continued reinforcement may be necessary to maintain progress over time.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 1, 2026

"Search and inspection operations are still under way, involving 75 firefighters supported by specialist reinforcement teams," the prefecture said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026

The WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention welcomed the allocation, describing it as a vital reinforcement of the response.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

Norte Chico chiefdoms were almost certainly theocratic, though not brutally so; leaders induced followers to obey by a combination of ideology, charisma, and skillfully timed positive reinforcement.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Four years later, he commanded the forces that kept Gen. Cornwallis pinned down at Yorktown until reinforcements arrived.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

Whether those reinforcements will be back Friday remains to be seen.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026

Moyes made it abundantly clear after Wednesday's 4-0 win at Championship side Preston in the Carabao Cup that he wanted reinforcements.

From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026

Firefighter reinforcements from all of Belgium and from Germany have been called in.

From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026

“You’re safe here in Pianosa. It won’t make any difference to you when these German reinforcements arrive, will it?”

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

Related Words

• aid