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

Other Word Forms

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

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 company also said it had introduced new incentive payments, "designed to increase earnings all year round".

Read more on BBC

One potential solution to ease the crunch is state financial incentives to hospitals and other medical facilities to provide more clinical placement slots.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"They were driven by a strong sense of purpose and nationalism. Where is the incentive to come back now?" said Mr Baru.

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"It would have been difficult enough if all you had to deal with is new tariffs, but with new tariffs and the incentive going away, there's two impacts."

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Those include major consolidation in the industry as studios look to cut costs and move TV and film production overseas because of hefty financial incentives.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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