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

The incentives would apply in single-family zones only if a property is owned by a public agency or a faith-based organization, which accounts for just a sliver of the city’s single-family lots.

From Los Angeles Times

Others say it needs to offer greater taxpayer-funded incentives for electric cars, and to do more to reassure car buyers that enough charging infrastructure will be built.

From BBC

Different governments have talked about providing machines and financial incentives to stop crop burning, but very little has happened on the ground.

From BBC

"While our study focused on plastic bags, similar spillover effects have been documented in policies targeting sugary drinks, energy efficiency, and health incentives," Che said.

From Science Daily

California doesn’t require schools to offer gifted programs and stopped funding them in 2013, so schools have little incentive to keep them.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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