motivational
Americanadjective
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of or relating to motivation, a person's reason for acting in a certain way.
The research investigated the motivational factors influencing people’s decision to volunteer with community organizations.
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inspiring or seeking to inspire people to act in a certain way, especially so as to overcome obstacles and achieve success, happiness, etc..
He mentors inner city youth, telling his motivational story at local schools.
Since her diagnosis, she has become an HIV/AIDS educator, motivational speaker, and activist.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of motivational
Explanation
Anything motivational makes you want to do something — or at least be willing to do it. When you're training your dog, the treats in your pocket can be used as motivational tools. If someone gives a motivational speech, their purpose is to try to get people excited about doing or trying something. A football coach's motivational talk to his team, for example, is intended to inspire the players to win the game. In other words, what the coach says motivates the team to play well. Both motivate and motivational come from the Old French motif, "drive or motivation," from motivus, "moving" in Medieval Latin.
Vocabulary lists containing motivational
The Poet X
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With the Fire on High
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Promises to Keep
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"BTS taught me to love myself," Ana said as she went through the pages of an album with photos of the band members and motivational phrases on the back.
From Barron's • May 5, 2026
But women who have cracked the top 1% of income show a patch of thin skin and a dose of self-doubt can be motivational assets.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026
Some big names expected at the event are venture capitalist Tim Draper, motivational speaker Tony Robbins, boxer Mike Tyson and fund manager Cathie Wood.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026
Farage's profile on the site says customers could pay the Clacton MP to provide messages "for a variety of occasions, from birthdays and retirements to roasts and motivational pep talks".
From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026
One sister became a commercial artist, another had a management role in a hospital’s mental health program, and the third turned to motivational speaking.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
