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 Word Forms

• nonreinforcement noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of reinforcement¹

First recorded in 1600–10; reinforce + -ment

Example Sentences

Mikolajewski has observed how behavioral therapy and small changes–like breaking up tasks and positive reinforcement when kids are doing the right thing—can significantly help.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The last thing they needed was for Mosley to call in reinforcements.

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The battle took place in their home port, where supplies and reinforcements were readily available.

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Islamist authorities then sent reinforcements to the region, with the commission estimating their number at 200,000 fighters.

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What makes obsessive political preoccupation distinct is its collective reinforcement: Social media, partisan news outlets and aspects of modern therapy have turned emotional validation into moral virtue.

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Related Words

• aid