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.

Example Sentences

China’s reliance on foreign semiconductors is both a major incentive for and hinderance to achieving that goal.

From Fortune

In their 2005 best-selling book Freakonomics, two authors explained how economics are a powerful incentive on human behavior.

From Fortune

Smaller chains and independent theaters will also be reopening, but discounts and other incentives are scarcer.

From Fortune

They argue that the incentives CEOs face have not changed, so their behavior won’t change.

From Fortune

Excerpts of a preliminary legal review of the purchase, leaked to NBC 7, contend that by acting as a middleman in a major real estate transaction, Cisterra didn’t have an incentive to look closely at the building’s true condition.

From Voice of San Diego

Given the potential for a cyber tit-for-tat to escalate, Obama has even more incentive to find a diplomatic solution.

From The Daily Beast

In addition, because House Democrats were cut out of the negotiations over the bill, they don't feel any incentive to play ball.

From The Daily Beast

As it stands, candidates do not have much of an incentive to come out in favor of same-sex marriage.

From The Daily Beast

Until scholars and collectors stop buying, antiquities dealers have no incentive to stop selling.

From The Daily Beast

As long as there are states willing to negotiate payments with groups like ISIS, there will be a financial incentive to kidnap.

From The Daily Beast

Several desertions were now reported from the troops, a hostility to discipline rather than cowardice being the incentive.

From Project Gutenberg

Above all, we had the perpetual incentive of gardening to keep our eyes toward the future.

From Project Gutenberg

And to thwart Mrs. Errington would alone have been a powerful incentive with old Max.

From Project Gutenberg

But with the 250 apprehension of the Ideal and of the Divine law, three things follow, incentive to progress.

From Project Gutenberg

What a successful man, of marked force of character, has done, may be an incentive and an encouragement to others.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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