Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

operant

/ˈɑpɚənt/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.18 in modern English

Syllables: op-er-ant
IPA: /ˈɑpɚənt/

9

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

That operates to produce an effect.

noun

An operative person or thing.

noun

Any of a class of behaviors that produce consequences by operating (i.e., acting) upon the environment.

Example Sentences

"thy most operant poison"
"I tell you frankly, if Paul Aubry is guilty I hope is convicted and punished; but if one of the others is guilty I hope he—or she—is punished, and if I knew anything operant to that end I certainly would not withhold it."

Etymology

From Middle English operant, from Latin operāns.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: operant, operāns

Inflected Forms

more operant (comparative) most operant (superlative) operants (plural)

Derived Forms

inoperant operancy operantly

Phrases

operant conditioning Skinner box

Frequently Paired Words

Skinner box

Synonyms

operative

Antonyms

inoperant

Questions

How do you pronounce operant?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɑpɚənt/.
What does operant mean?: That operates to produce an effect.
Where does operant come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce operant

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “operant”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈɑpɚənt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “operant”.
Repeat and practice — Say “operant” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.