habituation

noun

Save Word

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

, ha-, -chü-ˈā- \

Definition of habituation

1 : the process of habituating : the state of being habituated

2a : 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 The sounds of underwater pile-driving elicit signs of both alarm and habituation in longfin squid, and the medium-term stress level of fish can be determined by plucking their scales and testing for cortisol. — Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper's Magazine, "Findings," 30 Mar. 2020 The sounds of underwater pile-driving elicit signs of both alarm and habituation in longfin squid, and the medium-term stress level of fish can be determined by plucking their scales and testing for cortisol. — Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper's Magazine, "Findings," 30 Mar. 2020 The sounds of underwater pile-driving elicit signs of both alarm and habituation in longfin squid, and the medium-term stress level of fish can be determined by plucking their scales and testing for cortisol. — Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper's Magazine, "Findings," 30 Mar. 2020 In the town every other house is a clandestine distillery; and in the Indian village every habituation is one. — Craig Medred, Anchorage Daily News, "Perils of Prohibition: Drowning the past in rural Alaska," 4 Sep. 2013 The sounds of underwater pile-driving elicit signs of both alarm and habituation in longfin squid, and the medium-term stress level of fish can be determined by plucking their scales and testing for cortisol. — Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper's Magazine, "Findings," 30 Mar. 2020 The sounds of underwater pile-driving elicit signs of both alarm and habituation in longfin squid, and the medium-term stress level of fish can be determined by plucking their scales and testing for cortisol. — Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper's Magazine, "Findings," 30 Mar. 2020 The sounds of underwater pile-driving elicit signs of both alarm and habituation in longfin squid, and the medium-term stress level of fish can be determined by plucking their scales and testing for cortisol. — Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper's magazine, "Findings," 2 Mar. 2020 Tourists make a difference by joining rhino or lion conservationists at work in South Africa or accompanying researchers working on a chimpanzee habituation project in Kibale National Park in Uganda. — Kitson Jazynka, National Geographic, "17 unforgettable African safaris," 14 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'habituation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about habituation

Dictionary Entries near habituation

Statistics for habituation

Last Updated

7 Jun 2020

Cite this Entry

“Habituation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/habituation. Accessed 3 Jul. 2020.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for habituation

habituation

noun

ha·bit·u·a·tion | \ -ˌbich-ə-ˈwā-shən

Medical Definition of habituation

1 : the act or process of making habitual or accustomed

2a : 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

Keep scrolling for more