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

Furthermore, once the temporary order expires at the end of this year, there’s the issue of reinforcement.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026

Google said it has prioritized youth protections, particularly around emotional dependence and reinforcement of false beliefs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

As an adult, a laser focus on her career and the demands of her family life became a way to stay detached from herself—a strategy that received consistent positive reinforcement.

From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

Yekaterina Chujkova joined the 587th in 1943 as a reinforcement for the armament mechanics.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

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

So, now the midfield is sorted, it is natural for fans to look at the other areas of Carrick's squad that could do with reinforcements; namely left-back.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

His ability to also offer cover at left-back will be invaluable, but Newcastle clearly need further reinforcements before the window shuts on 1 September.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

“They’ll radio down reinforcements for sure. I don’t want to be trapped into fighting on that river.”

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi

Related Words

• aid