operant

[ op-er-uhnt ]

adjective

1. operating; operating; producing effects.

noun

1. a person or thing that operates.

operant

/ ˈɒpərənt /

adjective

1. producing effects; operating

noun

1. a person or thing that operates
2. psychol any response by an organism that is not directly caused by a stimulus

Word History and Origins

Origin of operant¹

1595–1605; < Late Latin operant- (stem of operāns, present participle of operārī; operate ); -ant

Example Sentences

It knows how to use operant conditioning — the same techniques used to train a dog — to turn young men and women into efficient killers.

From Salon

Verbal and operant responses of young children to vocal versus instrumental song performances.

From Literature

Clive Wynne, founding director of the Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University, ascribed the talking dogs’ skills to operant conditioning rather than an understanding of the words they seem to use.

From Seattle Times

Even Devine says that she thinks Bunny’s “speech” is primarily operant conditioning, where Bunny has made an association between pressing a button and something happening.

From The Verge

The Twittering Machine, as a wholly designed operant conditioning chamber, needs none of the expedients of the casino or opium den.

From The Guardian

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