inducement
Americannoun
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the act of inducing.
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the state of being induced.
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something that induces, motivates, or persuades; incentive.
- Synonyms:
- lure, attraction, incitement, spur, stimulus
noun
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the act of inducing
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a means of inducing; persuasion; incentive
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law (in pleading) the introductory part that leads up to and explains the matter in dispute
Related Words
See motive.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inducement
Explanation
The act of persuading someone to do something is called inducement. If you're training a dog, you might use food as an inducement to make the dog do what you want. This works with some humans too. The original meaning of the noun inducement came from the Latin verb inducere, meaning "to lead or persuade." Roman philosopher Seneca said, “There is no evil that does not promise inducements. Avarice promises money; luxury, a varied assortment of pleasures; ambition, a purple robe and applause. Vices tempt you by the rewards they offer.” So you can be seduced to bad behavior by some inducements or encouraged to good behavior by others. Would you like a treat?
Vocabulary lists containing inducement
Lead the Way: Duc and Duct
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The Hunger Games
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"A Modest Proposal," Vocabulary from the satire
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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.
TransCanada's proposal was selected by the state government under its Alaska Gasline Inducement Act, which made it eligible for $500 million in state money.
From Reuters • Jun. 29, 2010
Easy Terms�A Dangerous Inducement For the privilege of driving a record number of new cars out of dealer showrooms this year.
From Time Magazine Archive
Verifying herein that noble Maxim, That Victory to generous Minds is only an Inducement to Moderation.
From Military Memoirs of Capt. George Carleton by Defoe, Daniel
This last Consideration was sufficient Inducement to the calling out of Circulation all the Bills of those Emissions as speedily as possible.
From The Writings of Samuel Adams - Volume 4 by Cushing, Harry Alonzo
Some says no money down ud buy that bird o' Doc.—Ner no Inducement to the bird, says I, 'at he'd let Sifers go!
From Rubaiyat of Doc Sifers by Riley, James Whitcomb
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.
