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Pavlovian

[ pav-loh-vee-uhn, -law-, -lov-ee- ]

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Pavlov or his work, especially of experiments in which he elicited predictable responses from laboratory animals.


Pavlovian

/ pævˈləʊvɪən /

adjective

  1. of or relating to the work of Ivan Pavlov
  2. (of a reaction or response) automatic; involuntary


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Word History and Origins

Origin of Pavlovian1

First recorded in 1925–30; Pavlov + -ian

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Example Sentences

But this Pavlovian trigger cannot be effective indefinitely.

Could it just be that prison itself conditions a sort of pavlovian reaction to carve chess pieces?

Contrary to the Pavlovian GOP notion of Clinton, she is generally centrist in her views and approach.

Receiving a coffee-related gift triggers a Pavlovian response – elation, anticipation, a faux caffeine rush.

I can assure you that already in the Pavlovian swamps of the nutso right, the glands are swelling.

The question alerted the mechanism which produced the almost-Pavlovian loyalty response.

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PavlovaPavlovian conditioning