reinforcement

• re-enforcement, reenforcement, reënforcement

From reinforce +‎ -ment.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌɹiːɪnˈfɔːsmənt/
• (General American, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˌɹiɪnˈfɔɹsmənt/

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˌɹiːɪnˈfoːsmənt/

reinforcement (countable and uncountable, plural reinforcements)

1. (uncountable) The act, process, or state of reinforcing or being reinforced.
   • 1976 February 14, Thom Willenbecher, “Gremlins Inside The Press”, in Gay Community News, volume 3, number 33, page 5:

     If a journalist speaks for herself, let her say so. If something is true of "a few" or "some" or "many" or, even, "most" of us, then let her say that. It may cost a few extra modifiers, but it will prevent the unconscionable reinforcement of the myth that we are all alike.

2. (countable) A thing that reinforces.

   There's a website that can be a good learning reinforcement.

3. (in the plural) Additional troops or materiel sent to support a military action.

   Send in the reinforcements!

4. (uncountable, behavioral psychology) The process whereby a behavior with desirable consequences comes to be repeated.
5. A small round white sticker placed around a punched hole in a piece of paper to prevent the binder's rings from tearing through the paper.

• punishment
• operant conditioning
• classical conditioning