Meaning & use
Operant
Last updated
Producing an effect; functioning or operating, especially describing behavior that is shaped by its consequences.
See it in a sentence
The psychologist explained operant conditioning using an example of a rat pressing a lever for food.
The clause remained operant even after the rest of the contract was renegotiated.
A note on using this word
The term is most closely associated with B. F. Skinner's theory of operant conditioning, which studies how rewards and punishments shape voluntary behavior.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A behavior that operates on the environment to produce a consequence, such as a reward or punishment.
Pressing the lever was the operant that the rat learned to repeat for food.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Operant”, then compare your use with the examples above.