Definition of "reinforcement" []

• The act or process of reinforcing or the state of being reinforced. (noun)
• Something that reinforces. (noun)
• Additional personnel or equipment sent to support a military action. Often used in the plural. (noun)
• Psychology The occurrence or experimental introduction of an unconditioned stimulus along with a conditioned stimulus. (noun)
• Psychology The strengthening of a conditioned response by such means. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Consider: we know, thanks to B.F. Skinner, that positive reinforcement is the most effective means of altering behaviour."
• "Golborne said experts will have to analyze the soil and rock around the bore to determine if a metal reinforcement is needed to secure the shaft."
• "Once the reinforcement is strong, “even when you take the food away, they keep pressing for a really long time.”"