conditioning

American  

[kuhn-dish-uh-ning] / kənˈdɪʃ ə nɪŋ /

noun

Psychology.

conditionings plural

1. Also called operant conditioning, instrumental conditioning.  a process of changing behavior by rewarding or punishing a subject each time an action is performed until the subject associates the action with pleasure or distress.

2. Also called classical conditioning, Pavlovian conditioning, respondent conditioning.  a process in which a stimulus that was previously neutral, as the sound of a bell, comes to evoke a particular response, as salivation, by being repeatedly paired with another stimulus that normally evokes the response, as the taste of food.

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conditioning British  

/ kənˈdɪʃənɪŋ /

noun

1. psychol the learning process by which the behaviour of an organism becomes dependent on an event occurring in its environment See also classical conditioning instrumental learning

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adjective

1. (of a shampoo, cosmetic, etc) intended to improve the condition of something

   a conditioning rinse

conditioning Scientific  

/ kən-dĭsh′ə-nĭng /

1. See classical conditioning

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• self-conditioning
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• conditionings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of conditioning

First recorded in 1915–20; condition + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Transitioning to using lower-carbon materials or processes typically comes with a learning curve, said Melinda Tomaino, senior director of environment and sustainability at the Associated General Contractors of America.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

"Transitioning the chemical industry to a sustainable industry is arguably one of the most difficult parts of the whole energy transition," explained Reisner.

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2026

The trust's Transitioning in the Workplace policy allowed a person to use the single-sex space that conformed with their gender identity, and anyone of that sex who objected could change elsewhere.

From BBC • Jan. 16, 2026

Transitioning Minnesota toward clean energy and reducing the state’s fossil fuel emissions have been some of Walz’s top environmental priorities as governor.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 14, 2024

Transitioning seamlessly into Yiddish, she added savagely, “Do you have gefilte fish for brains?”

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

Related Words

• assignment
• discipline
• drilling
• homework
• preparation
• repetition
• training
• tryout
• workout