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

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

Interestingly, however, this habituation did not appear to be permanent. —Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Pain and terror rouse him from his habituation, the domestic life that dulls. —Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024

The team plans to look at how animals get used to recreational noises over time — a term called habituation. —Elizabeth Walsh, Idaho Statesman, 9 July 2024

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