English Reference
noun

conditioning

n.
US /kənˈdɪʃənɪŋ/ UK /kəndˈɪʃənɪŋ/ con·di·tion·ing

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    the process of training a person or animal to react in a certain way to a situation.

    the psychological process of modifying behaviour through repeated stimuli or reinforcement. Often used in the context of social or psychological development.

    Simple

    Years of social conditioning make us feel we must always be polite to strangers.

    In context

    The experiment demonstrated how classical conditioning could influence an animal's physiological response to a neutral stimulus over a short period.

    Usage

    Often used with 'social' or 'cultural' to describe how society shapes our habits.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Sport

    the process of getting your body into a very healthy and strong state through exercise.

    the process of improving physical health, strength, and endurance through a systematic exercise regime.

    Simple

    The team spent the whole summer on physical conditioning before the season started.

    In context

    The athlete's superior conditioning allowed her to maintain a high level of performance even in the final minutes of the match.

    Usage

    Commonly used in professional sports and fitness contexts.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    the process of keeping a material at a specific temperature or humidity before testing it.

    the storage of a material specimen under specified environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity, for a set duration prior to testing.

    Simple

    The wood samples required two days of conditioning in a humid room before the experiment.

    In context

    Standard conditioning of the polymer samples is essential to ensure that the tensile strength measurements are reproducible across different laboratories.

Air conditioning takes the edge off, but it’s like trying to disguise medicine with a mouthful of Coke; it only goes so far.

The Guardian· 14 Aug 2026

Unison said its members had reported being sent out in ambulances in stifling heat with faulty or no air conditioning, and often with limited access to drinking water or toilet facilities.

BBC News· 6 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated