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

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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

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adjective

1. serving to incite to action

Synonym Usage

See motive.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

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

Explanation

If your mom wants you to mow the lawn but you don't feel like it, she might offer to treat you to ice cream after as an incentive. An incentive is something that stimulates you to take action or work harder. This noun dates back to Middle English, from Late Latin incentivum, from incentivus, "stimulating." In Latin, incentivus meant "setting the tune," from incinere, "to sing." The related English verb is incentivize. The less common verb incent was first used in the early 1980s, and has been criticized as business jargon.

Example Sentences

Incentive stock options can trigger a large, surprise alternative minimum tax bill, so advisers generally recommend creating a tax calendar to exercise them over several tax years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

Translation: AMT will still be a non-issue for most people, but a larger group will be affected, especially those exercising Incentive Stock Options.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 16, 2026

The California Air Resources Board said vouchers for its E-Bike Incentive Project are temporarily unavailable after applicants flooded the agency with requests.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2026

Appeared in the January 24, 2026, print edition as 'Georgia’s Film Tax Incentive Bombs at the Box Office'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

He had already attained Incentive Level A, the highest incentive level a young inmate could achieve, and he was housed among other low-risk youths in a hall where the atmosphere was generally relaxed.

From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater

Related Words

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