English Explanatory Dictionary

Pavlov's dog

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A person who reacts instinctively to a stimulus, without thought or consideration.

Word forms

Pavlov's dog Pavlov's dogs Pavlov dog

Etymology

In reference to the Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov's work on classical conditioning: he discovered that dogs could be conditioned to salivate when a bell was rung, if it had previously been rung whenever food was given.

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