Pavlov's dog

noun

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

“For quotations using this term, see Citations:Pavlov's dog.”

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Meanings

nounPavlov's dog (plural Pavlov's dogs)

plural Pavlov's dogs · alternative Pavlov dog

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

    For quotations using this term, see Citations:Pavlov's dog.

Origin

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.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 巴甫洛夫的狗
  • 巴甫洛夫的狗one who reacts instinctively to a stimulus
Cite this entry
APA

Pavlov's dog. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Pavlov's%20dog

MLA

“Pavlov's dog.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Pavlov's%20dog. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Pavlov's dog,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Pavlov's%20dog.

Source: Pavlov's dog on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.