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

In particular, it has increased the resources devoted to reinforcement learning, a step later in the training process that teaches models to perform skills through trial and error, the people said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 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

Zirkzee's exit might open the door for a left-back or a reinforcement in the forward department, although that too might initially be a loan.

From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026

Although we need reinforcement, the recruits give us almost more trouble than they are worth.

From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026

Kenscoff Mayor Jean Massillon said the community is broke, desperate for government help and had been begging for reinforcements for months.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

I am excited, because that means high-tempo, high pressing and playing on the front foot, but that's why it's even more important they sign reinforcements to strengthen their defence.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

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

From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026

The retreating monsters were running straight toward their reinforcements.

From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• aid