incentive

American  

[in-sen-tiv] / ɪnˈsɛn tɪv /

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 British  

/ 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

Related Words

See motive.

Other Word Forms

• counterincentive noun
• incentively adverb
• nonincentive adjective
• preincentive noun
• superincentive noun

Etymology

Origin of incentive

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

Example Sentences

The vendors that provide such services also offer tools that are built to set bonus or incentive compensation, according to the report.

From MarketWatch

And there isn’t very much the term-limited governor, playing out his final months in office, can offer as incentive to quit.

From Los Angeles Times

In this phase of "multiple transformations," the institutes recommend the German government "increase incentives for employment" and ease regulations to "improve conditions for investment and innovation".

From Barron's

The arrangement could also force Lennar to acquire land in excess of demand, forcing it offer additional incentives to offload inventory, which could “meaningfully impact ROE,” Bettenhausen says.

From The Wall Street Journal

Optimists say the Strait will reopen on its own once the bombing stops, since Iran and its neighbors have an incentive to restore the flow.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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