Word
punisher
Phoneticspun·ish·er, stress on the first syllable
/ˈpənɪʃɝ/
Definition
n. a person or thing that causes pain or trouble to someone who has done something wrong. It is often used in psychology to describe a negative result that stops a behavior.
n. a person or thing that inflicts pain, loss, or discomfort as a consequence of an action. In behavioral psychology, it refers to a stimulus that decreases the likelihood of a specific behavior through negative reinforcement.
Examples
“The loud noise acts as a punisher for the child.”
“In the classroom, the teacher uses a time-out as a punisher for students who interrupt the lesson.”
“The study suggests that the effectiveness of a punisher depends on its immediacy and the perceived connection between the action and the consequence.”
Examples
simple
“The loud noise acts as a punisher for the child.”
contextual
“In the classroom, the teacher uses a time-out as a punisher for students who interrupt the lesson.”
complex
“The study suggests that the effectiveness of a punisher depends on its immediacy and the perceived connection between the action and the consequence.”
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/punisher