incentive

American  

[in-sen-tiv] / ɪnˈsɛn tɪv /

noun

incentives plural

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

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• incentives
  plural

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

Part of the roadmap included the updated Sustainable Farming Incentive Scheme, which was set-up post-Brexit to support farmers to produce food and manage land in an environmentally-friendly way.

From BBC • Jun. 29, 2026

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

The plan adopted Tuesday expands the Opportunity Corridor Transition Area, a provision in the Citywide Housing Incentive Program that incentivizes developers to build small, multi-family housing projects near transit.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 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

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