reinforcement
gb/ɹˌiɪnfˈɔɹsmənt/ us/ɹˌiɪnfˈɔɹsmənt/
B1
English
~ 7800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
action
1
extra support that makes something stronger
extra support that makes something stronger, more stable, or more certain
Usage pattern:
[something] needs / receives reinforcement
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "reinforcement" with "enforcement". "Reinforcement" is about adding support or strength, while "enforcement" is about making people follow rules or laws.
Synonyms
strengthening (focuses more directly on the act of making something stronger, while "reinforcement" can be the act or the added support itself.)
Antonyms
weakening (describes making something less strong or less stable, the opposite of reinforcement.)
Collocations
structural reinforcement
|bridge reinforcement
|emotional reinforcement
|provide reinforcement
|need reinforcement
|additional reinforcement
Themes
construction
|communication
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The old wooden beams will need reinforcement before we can add a second floor.
- Her kind words gave me reinforcement when I was doubting my decision.
- The new data offers strong reinforcement for the theory that sleep affects memory.
- Metal brackets were added as reinforcement to the damaged door frame.
- Constant practice serves as reinforcement for the skills you learn in class.
Learner examples
- This bridge needs reinforcement to be safe.
- His message gave me reinforcement and I felt better.
- The study is good reinforcement for their idea.
- We added extra screws as reinforcement to the shelf.
- Daily review is strong reinforcement for new vocabulary.
Noun
B2
action
2
reward or effect that strengthens behavior
a reward or result that makes a behavior happen more often
Usage pattern:
[someone] uses reinforcement to change [behavior]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "positive reinforcement" means something morally good and "negative reinforcement" means punishment. In psychology, "positive" means adding something and "negative" means taking something away. Both positive and negative reinforcement INCREASE the behavior.
Synonyms
encouragement (a more general, everyday word; "reinforcement" suggests a more systematic or psychological view of how behavior is strengthened.)
Antonyms
punishment (in behavior terms, punishment is meant to reduce a behavior, while reinforcement is meant to increase it.)
Collocations
positive reinforcement
|negative reinforcement
|use reinforcement
|behavioral reinforcement
|social reinforcement
|powerful reinforcement
Themes
psychology
|education
|parenting
|science
Examples
- Teachers often use positive reinforcement, such as praise or small rewards, to increase participation in class.
- If you give a child extra screen time every time they finish their homework, that can act as reinforcement for good study habits.
- In this training program, reinforcement happens immediately after the desired action, so the behavior is learned quickly.
- Social reinforcement, like smiles and approval from friends, can strongly influence how we act.
- The company relies on continuous reinforcement to build a culture of safety among its workers.
Learner examples
- Parents can use reinforcement to help children learn good habits.
- Smiles and kind words are strong reinforcement for a child.
- The coach uses praise as reinforcement when the team plays well.
- Bad behavior can also grow if it gets reinforcement.
- Reinforcement should happen soon after the action.
Noun
B1
entity
3
additional soldiers or helpers sent in
extra soldiers or people who come to help a group, usually in a difficult situation
Usage pattern:
[someone] sends / calls for reinforcements
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use the singular in phrases like "call for reinforcement" when native speakers almost always say "call for reinforcements" in this military or emergency sense.
Synonyms
backup (more informal and general; often used for police or help in everyday situations, while "reinforcements" is common in military or serious contexts.)
Antonyms
withdrawal (refers to removing troops or support, the opposite of sending reinforcements.)
Collocations
send in reinforcements
|call for reinforcements
|request reinforcements
|fresh reinforcements
|military reinforcements
|police reinforcements
Themes
military
|emergency
|safety
|politics
|law
Examples
- The commander radioed headquarters and requested reinforcements before advancing further.
- Police reinforcements arrived within minutes to help control the crowd.
- Without reinforcements, the unit was forced to hold its position through the night.
- Fresh reinforcements were sent to the front line to replace the tired soldiers.
- The firefighters called for reinforcements when the blaze spread to the next building.
Learner examples
- The army needed reinforcements to win the battle.
- Police reinforcements came and the street became quiet.
- They called for reinforcements when the fire grew.
- More reinforcements arrived the next morning.
- Without reinforcements, the small group could not continue.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
4
material that strengthens a structure
material put inside something, like concrete or cloth, to make it stronger
Usage pattern:
reinforcement in [material / structure]
Synonyms
rebar (a specific type of steel reinforcement used in concrete; more narrow than the general term "reinforcement".)
Antonyms
weak spot (a part of a structure with less strength, conceptually the opposite of material used to strengthen it.)
Collocations
steel reinforcement
|reinforcement bars
|fiber reinforcement
|concrete reinforcement
|internal reinforcement
|glass fiber reinforcement
Themes
construction
|engineering
|manufacturing
|technology
|housing
Examples
- Steel reinforcement is placed inside the concrete to prevent it from cracking under tension.
- The engineer recommended adding fiber reinforcement to improve the durability of the road surface.
- Rust on the reinforcement can seriously weaken a concrete beam.
- The design includes extra reinforcement around the openings for doors and windows.
- Carbon fiber reinforcement allows the panel to remain light but very strong.
Learner examples
- The workers put steel reinforcement inside the concrete.
- Reinforcement helps the wall stay strong for many years.
- There is extra reinforcement under the heavy machine.
- The engineer checked the reinforcement before they poured the concrete.
- We need more reinforcement in this part of the bridge.
Grammar
Dictionary form
reinforcement
IPA
GB/ɹˌiɪnfˈɔɹsmənt/
US/ɹˌiɪnfˈɔɹsmənt/
Syllables & stress
re - in - force - ment (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (in)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: reinforcement
- Plural: reinforcement, reinforcements
Word family
Forms
reinforcements
noun
Core family
reinforce
verb B1
Related words
reinforcer
noun
reinforced
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unreinforced
adjective
Expressions
call for reinforcements
1/kˈɔl fɚ ɹˌiɪnfˈɔɹsmənts/
fixed phrase
request extra troops or help
to ask for more soldiers or other helpers to come and support people in a difficult situation
Examples
- The officers had to call for reinforcements when the fight got out of control.
- Firefighters quickly called for reinforcements as the fire spread to nearby buildings.
- Realizing they were outnumbered, the squad called for reinforcements.
negative reinforcement
1/nˈɛɡɪtɪv ɹˌiɪnfˈɔɹsmənt/
fixed phrase
relief that increases behavior
taking away something unpleasant, like loud noise or extra work, so that a behavior happens more often
Examples
- Turning off a loud alarm when a task is finished is an example of negative reinforcement.
- Negative reinforcement is often misunderstood as punishment, but it actually increases the behavior.
- The trainer used negative reinforcement by stopping the pressure on the horse when it moved in the right direction.
positive reinforcement
1/pˈɑzɪtɪv ɹˌiɪnfˈɔɹsmənt/
fixed phrase
reward that increases behavior
giving something pleasant, like praise or a small reward, so that a behavior happens more often
Examples
- The teacher uses positive reinforcement, such as stickers and praise, to keep the children motivated.
- In parenting, positive reinforcement can be more effective than punishment for building good habits.
- Employees respond well to positive reinforcement when their hard work is noticed and rewarded.
reinforcement learning
1/ɹˌiɪnfˈɔɹsmənt lˈɚnɪŋ/
fixed phrase
technical
machine learning by rewards and penalties
a kind of computer learning where a program tries actions and learns from rewards or penalties to do better over time
Examples
- Reinforcement learning has been used to train computers to play complex games like Go.
- In reinforcement learning, the system improves its strategy based on feedback from the environment.
- The robotics team is experimenting with reinforcement learning to teach the robot to walk more smoothly.
send in reinforcements
1/sˈɛnd ˈɪn ɹˌiɪnfˈɔɹsmənts/
fixed phrase
dispatch extra troops or help
to send more soldiers or other helpers to support people who are already in a difficult situation
Examples
- The general decided to send in reinforcements before the next attack.
- When the protests grew, the city sent in reinforcements to support the local police.
- They had to send in reinforcements to help the rescue teams reach the village.
steel reinforcement
1/stˈil ɹˌiɪnfˈɔɹsmənt/
fixed phrase
technical
steel used to strengthen concrete
steel bars or steel mesh put inside concrete to make it stronger
Examples
- The building code requires steel reinforcement in all load‑bearing concrete walls.
- Corrosion of the steel reinforcement can seriously damage a concrete structure.
- They inspected the steel reinforcement before pouring the concrete slab.
structural reinforcement
1/stɹˈʌkt͡ʃɚəl ɹˌiɪnfˈɔɹsmənt/
fixed phrase
technical
extra strength added to structures
extra parts or materials added to a building, bridge, or other structure to make it stronger and safer
Examples
- The old bridge will undergo major structural reinforcement next year.
- After the earthquake, many houses needed structural reinforcement to meet the new safety standards.
- We included structural reinforcement around the elevator shaft in the design.