incentive

[ in-sen-tiv ]

noun

1. something that incites or tends to incite to action or greater effort, as a reward offered for increased productivity.

   Synonyms: prod, goad, encouragement, impulse, incitement, spur, stimulus

adjective

1. inciting, as to action; stimulating; provocative.

incentive

/ ɪnˈsɛntɪv /

noun

1. a motivating influence; stimulus
2. 1. an additional payment made to employees as a means of increasing production
   2. ( as modifier )

      an incentive scheme

adjective

1. serving to incite to action

Derived Forms

• inˈcentively, adverb

Other Words From

• in·centive·ly adverb
• counter·in·centive noun
• nonin·centive adjective
• prein·centive noun
• super·in·centive noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of incentive¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Late Latin incentīvus “provocative,” in Latin: “setting the tune,” from incent(us) “played” (past participle of incinere “to play (an instrument, tunes),” from in- in- ² + -cinere, combining form of canere “to sing”) + -īvus -ive

Word History and Origins

Origin of incentive¹

C15: from Late Latin incentīvus (adj), from Latin: striking up, setting the tune, from incinere to sing, from in- ² + canere to sing

Synonym Study

See motive.

Related Words

• encouragement
• enticement
• impetus
• motivation
• reason
• stimulus