Pavlovian

adjective

Pav·​lov·​i·​an pav-ˈlȯ-vē-ən How to pronounce Pavlovian (audio)
-ˈlō-;
-ˈlȯ-fē- How to pronounce Pavlovian (audio)
1
: of or relating to Ivan Pavlov or to his work and theories
Pavlovian conditioning
2
: being or expressing a conditioned or predictable reaction : automatic
the candidates gave Pavlovian answers

Examples of Pavlovian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Those who follow the teachings of Warren Buffett know only to invest via index funds in a Pavlovian fashion. Jim Cramer, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2024 Every other outcome only reinforces his Pavlovian impulse to belittle, attack and dominate. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 7 May 2024 Hopefully, though, no one will subsequently suffer from a Pavlovian pee. Sarah Nechamkin, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2024 Just as red-leather booths and dark oak paneling trigger the Pavlovian expectation of a frigid martini and a glistening rib-eye, intimate counters from Omaha to Austin to Chicago to Denver promise a multicourse procession of jewel-like fish flown overnight from Japan. Brett Anderson, New York Times, 21 May 2024 The regularity of her calls transformed me into a Pavlovian dog. Cheryl Maguire, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2024 Byredo Tree House Candle The smell of this candle has a Pavlovian effect on me. Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 15 Feb. 2024 And there’s no small irony, of course, that this is Slack doing this survey—the same workplace messaging app that lets coworkers contact you at all hours (even if there are good tools to silence that Pavlovian ding). Jena McGregor, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023 Some can be used for shock training, while others simply vibrate, create a tapping sensation, or use auditory stimulation, such as beeping or Pavlovian tones. Theresa Holland, Peoplemag, 17 July 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Pavlovian was in 1926

Dictionary Entries Near Pavlovian

Cite this Entry

“Pavlovian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Pavlovian. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

Pavlovian

adjective
: of or relating to Ivan Pavlov or to his work and theories
Pavlovian conditioning
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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