reinforcement

[ ree-in-fawrs-muhnt, -fohrs- ]

noun

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.

Other Words From

• nonre·in·forcement noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of reinforcement¹

First recorded in 1600–10; reinforce + -ment

Example Sentences

In a vain attempt at positive self-reinforcement, chalk all this up to maybe having worked out too hard last week.

From The Daily Beast

There are a lot of kids out there who need help who are getting a lot of negative reinforcement.

From The Daily Beast

The Chinese won immediate security reinforcement against Soviet pressures.

From The Daily Beast

He did so while specifically tying his decision to the reinforcement of civilian control.

From The Daily Beast

The cargo includes cement, reinforcement bars, and prefabricated wooden houses.

From The Daily Beast

This reinforcement, so much sooner than expected, greatly elated Major Powell.

From Project Gutenberg

The War Office seem rather pleased than otherwise that this reinforcement has fallen through.

From Project Gutenberg

Glover and the muleteers, steadied by this opportune reinforcement, reloaded and resumed their file-firing.

From Project Gutenberg

The bourgeois looked in stupefaction at this reinforcement that was about to join the attacking party.

From Project Gutenberg

Such a reinforcement of the French navy would put it again on a war footing.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• aid