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 Words From

• nonre·in·forcement noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of reinforcement¹

First recorded in 1600–10; reinforce + -ment

Example Sentences

The new-toy innocence of these first-time cinematographers is, in some ways, an ideal symbol for the spiritual reinforcement they get from prioritizing their art.

From Los Angeles Times

To boost the reliability of reinforcement learning models for complex tasks with variability, MIT researchers have introduced a more efficient algorithm for training them.

From Science Daily

Instead, experts say most reinforcements were moved to Kursk from parts in Ukraine where the fighting is not as intense.

From BBC

Custom metal reinforcements are fitted to dinosaur fossils.

From Los Angeles Times

Other European neighbours have also offered to send reinforcements.

From BBC

Related Words

• aid