habituation

noun

ha·​bit·​u·​a·​tion hə-ˌbi-chə-ˈwā-shən 

ha-,

-chü-ˈā-

1

: the process of habituating : the state of being habituated

2

a

: tolerance to the effects of a drug acquired through continued use

b

: psychological dependence on a drug after a period of use compare addiction

3

: decrease in responsiveness upon repeated exposure to a stimulus

Examples of habituation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Krasznahorkai’s work throws an obstacle in front of our habituation to violence and war by showing us that what should be surreal or impossible has, in fact, become our reality. —Walt Hunter, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025

But in both cases, the same truth applies: habituation dulls the senses, while novelty reignites them. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025

The final layer, embodiment and habituation, and how to implement them, completes the picture. —Benjamin Voyer, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025

The time spent in free motion while inside the swarm is meaningful, reducing the battery power needed in the control backpacks and reducing the likelihood of habituation to the signals. —Anna Funk, Discover Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for habituation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Medical Definition

habituation

noun

ha·​bit·​u·​a·​tion -ˌbich-ə-ˈwā-shən 

1

: the act or process of making habitual or accustomed

2

a

: tolerance to the effects of a drug acquired through continued use

b

: psychological dependence on a drug after a period of use compare addiction

3

: a form of nonassociative learning characterized by a decrease in responsiveness upon repeated exposure to a stimulus compare sensitization sense 3