I. ˈä-pə-rənt adjective
Date: 15th century
1. : functioning or tending to produce effects : effective
an operant conscience
2. : of or relating to the observable or measurable
3. : of, relating to, or being an operant or operant conditioning
operant behavior
• op·er·ant·ly adverb
II. noun
Date: 1937
: behavior (as bar pressing by a rat to obtain food) that operates on the environment to produce rewarding and reinforcing effects