Reinforcement (Noun)
Meaning 1
Information that makes more forcible or convincing; "his gestures provided eloquent reinforcement for his complaints".
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The statistics served as a powerful reinforcement to the claim that the new policy was successful.
- Her personal experience provided a significant reinforcement for the argument she made in her speech.
- The researcher's findings provided strong reinforcement for the original hypothesis.
- The famous actor's endorsement of the charity event was a valuable reinforcement to the cause.
- The data collected during the experiment provided crucial reinforcement for the scientists' new theory.
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Meaning 2
An act performed to strengthen approved behavior.
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The teacher gave the student a sticker as reinforcement for completing their homework on time.
- The company offers bonuses as reinforcement for employees who meet their sales targets.
- The dog trainer used treats as reinforcement to encourage good behavior in the puppy.
- The coach provided positive reinforcement to the team after they won the game.
- The parents gave their child praise and affection as reinforcement for sharing toys with their sibling.
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Meaning 3
(psychology) a stimulus that strengthens or weakens the behavior that produced it.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- Positive reinforcement, such as a smile or praise, can greatly encourage children to exhibit good behavior.
- In the operant conditioning chamber, a food pellet served as a reinforcement for the rat to press the lever.
- The use of rewards as reinforcement in a token economy has been effective in modifying maladaptive behaviors in individuals with autism.
- Social reinforcement, including social media likes and comments, can have a significant impact on a person's self-esteem and behavior.
- A mild reprimand can be a negative reinforcement that weakens a behavior, such as yelling in a library, by reducing its frequency.
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Meaning 4
A military operation (often involving new supplies of men and materiel) to strengthen a military force or aid in the performance of its mission; "they called for artillery support".
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The battalion was in dire need of reinforcement to continue their mission in the remote area.
- A team of medics and supplies arrived as part of the reinforcement for the injured soldiers.
- Reinforcement troops were flown in overnight to bolster the defensive line.
- Their plan relied heavily on reinforcement from neighboring units to succeed.
- Air support was called in as reinforcement for the ground troops who were pinned down by enemy fire.
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Meaning 5
A device designed to provide additional strength; "the cardboard backing was just a strengthener"; "he used gummed reinforcements to hold the page in his notebook".
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The metal reinforcement in the concrete pillar helped to prevent it from collapsing.
- She applied a reinforcement patch to the torn page in her book to keep it from falling apart.
- The engineer specified a reinforcement mesh to be embedded in the bridge's foundation for added stability.
- The notebook manufacturer included gummed reinforcements to help users keep their pages from tearing out.
- The carpenter used wooden reinforcements to support the roof of the old house during the renovation.