operant

1 of 2

adjective

op·er·ant ˈä-pə-rənt

Synonyms of operant next

: functioning or tending to produce effects : effective

an operant conscience

: of or relating to the observable or measurable

: of, relating to, or being an operant or operant conditioning

operant behavior

operantly adverb

operant

2 of 2

noun

: behavior (such as bar pressing by a rat to obtain food) that operates on the environment to produce rewarding and reinforcing effects

Examples of operant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Researchers then had both groups compete against pain-free mice in a standard motivational test called a progressive ratio (PR) operant test, in which tasty treats become progressively harder to earn. —

Ben Thomas, Discover Magazine, 31 July 2014 The current study investigated domestic cat preferences at the individual and population level using a free operant preference assessment. —

Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2017 Bradfield probably could have parlayed that success into some sort of cushy position with Burnett, but his operant mode was reinvention. —

Susan Orlean, The New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2022 As such, mobile games have developed into monsters psychologically tuned to rip thousands out of players vulnerable enough to be operant conditioned into a game addiction. —

Clem Chambers, Forbes, 8 Nov. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'operant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, borrowed from Late Latin operant-, operans, present participle of operārī "to work, be efficacious, effect, produce" — more at operate

Noun

derivative of operant entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1937, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of operant was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century