stimulus

noun

stim·​u·​lus ˈstim-yə-ləs How to pronounce stimulus (audio)
plural stimuli ˈstim-yə-ˌlī How to pronounce stimulus (audio) -ˌlē How to pronounce stimulus (audio)
: something that rouses or incites to activity: such as
a
c
: an agent (such as an environmental change) that directly influences the activity of a living organism or one of its parts (as by exciting a sensory organ or evoking muscular contraction or glandular secretion)

Examples of stimulus in a Sentence

The pay raise was a stimulus for production. Heat and light are physical stimuli. The dog responded to the stimulus of the ringing bell.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Since September, the Chinese government has unveiled stimulus measures such as monetary policy easing policies and plans to counteract the property market’s decline. Sofia Celeste, WWD, 10 Jan. 2025 Lastly, coupled with all else that is afoot in the wider market are some traders' hopes of an uptick in near-term crude demand from China as the market keenly awaits what further economic stimulus measures are taken by Beijing in the first quarter of the year. Gaurav Sharma, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025 China has been struggling to support its economy since last September, with several stimulus measures including interest rate reductions and support for the stock and property markets. Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2025 The Chinese government has implemented stimulus measures aimed at pulling the world's second-largest economy out of a deflationary, slow-growth malaise. Axios, 2 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for stimulus 

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

1684, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stimulus was in 1684

Dictionary Entries Near stimulus

Cite this Entry

“Stimulus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stimulus. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

stimulus

noun
stim·​u·​lus ˈstim-yə-ləs How to pronounce stimulus (audio)
plural stimuli -ˌlī How to pronounce stimulus (audio)
-ˌlē
1
: something that rouses or stirs to action : incentive
2
: something (as an environmental change) that acts to partly change bodily activity (as by exciting a sensory organ)
heat, light, and sound are common physical stimuli

Medical Definition

stimulus

noun
stim·​u·​lus ˈstim-yə-ləs How to pronounce stimulus (audio)
plural stimuli -ˌlī How to pronounce stimulus (audio) -ˌlē How to pronounce stimulus (audio)
1
2
: an agent (as an environmental change) that directly influences the activity of living protoplasm (as by exciting a sensory organ or evoking muscular contraction or glandular secretion)
a visual stimulus

More from Merriam-Webster on stimulus

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