reinforcement
noun
re·in·force·ment
ˌrē-ən-ˈfȯrs-mənt 
1
: the action of strengthening or encouraging something : the state of being reinforced
2
: something that strengthens or encourages something: such as
a
: an addition of troops, supplies, etc., that augments the strength of an army or other military force
—usually plural
About 8 a.m. Soviet tanks and armored personnel carriers containing reinforcements approached the gorge from the right flank.—
John Barron
John Barron
b
: something designed to provide additional strength (as in a weak area)
a bridge in need of steel reinforcements
c
: a response to someone's behavior that is intended to make that person more likely to behave that way again
positive/negative reinforcement
3
psychology
: the action of causing a subject to learn to give or to increase the frequency of a desired response that in classical conditioning involves the repeated presentation of an unconditioned stimulus (such as the sight of food) paired with a conditioned stimulus (such as the sound of a bell) and that in operant conditioning involves the use of a reward following a correct response or a punishment following an incorrect response
also
: the reward, punishment, or unconditioned stimulus used in reinforcement
Synonyms
Examples of reinforcement in a Sentence
“We're outnumbered! Call for reinforcements!”
We need to prevent enemy reinforcements from reaching the front line.
The bridge is in need of reinforcement.
You should encourage good behavior with positive reinforcement.
Recent Examples on the Web
This is the fine-tuning of the AI after the initial data training and consists usually of performing reinforcement learning with human feedback (RLHF).
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Thousands of soldiers are working with firefighters and police reinforcements in the immense emergency response.
—Hernán Muñoz and Joseph Wilson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Most veterinarians agree that positive reinforcement is the best way to go about training felines.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Fresh off an exhilarating overtime road win against the Seattle Seahawks and in the midst of a three-game winning streak, the Rams (4-4) appear ready to add some reinforcements.
—Adam Grosbard, Orange County Register, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reinforcement 
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Lance Eliot, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Thousands of soldiers are working with firefighters and police reinforcements in the immense emergency response.
—Hernán Muñoz and Joseph Wilson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Most veterinarians agree that positive reinforcement is the best way to go about training felines.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Fresh off an exhilarating overtime road win against the Seattle Seahawks and in the midst of a three-game winning streak, the Rams (4-4) appear ready to add some reinforcements.
—Adam Grosbard, Orange County Register, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reinforcement
Dictionary Entries Near reinforcement
Cite this Entry
“Reinforcement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reinforcement. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reinforcement
noun
re·in·force·ment
ˌrē-ən-ˈfōr-smənt
-ˈfȯr-
1
: the action of reinforcing : the state of being reinforced
2
: something that reinforces
Medical Definition
reinforcement
noun
re·in·force·ment
ˌrē-ən-ˈfōr-smənt, -ˈfȯr-
: the action of causing a subject (as a student or an experimental animal) to learn to give or to increase the frequency of a desired response that in classical conditioning involves the repeated presentation of an unconditioned stimulus (as the sight of food) paired with a conditioned stimulus (as the sound of a bell) and that in operant conditioning involves the use of a reward following a correct response or a punishment following an incorrect response
also
: the reward, punishment, or unconditioned stimulus used in reinforcement compare recruitment sense 1
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