Standard Lemma guide

reinforcer

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Something that reinforces; something that strengthens a behavior.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

(psychology) a stimulus that strengthens or weakens the behavior that produced it

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: reinforcing stimulus, reinforcement

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: stimulation, stimulus, stimulant, input

Narrower terms: positive reinforcing stimulus, positive reinforcer, negative reinforcing stimulus, negative reinforcer

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Italic *wre- Latin re-der. Old French re-bor. Middle English re- English re- English inforce English reinforce Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusnom. Latin -āriusbor. Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz Proto-West Germanic *-ārī Old English -ere Middle English -ere English -er English reinforcer From reinforce + -er.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 強化物 /强化物 — something that reinforces; something that strengthens a behavior
  • Chinese Mandarin: 強化因素 /强化因素 (qiánghuà yīnsù) — something that reinforces; something that strengthens a behavior
  • Chinese Mandarin: 增強物 /增强物 — something that reinforces; something that strengthens a behavior
  • Finnish: vahvistin — something that reinforces; something that strengthens a behavior
  • Finnish: vahvistaja — something that reinforces; something that strengthens a behavior
  • German: Verstärker — something that reinforces; something that strengthens a behavior
  • Russian: подкрепи́тель (podkrepítelʹ) — something that reinforces; something that strengthens a behavior