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

Even with the new threats, the incentives remain huge.

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It reflects a deliberate choice to skew incentives toward obedience in the name of hierarchy, discipline, and civilian control, even at the expense of allowing some illegal orders to be carried out.

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The Justices no doubt appreciate this and the need to tread cautiously to avoid breaking the internet or the incentives to create original content.

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Boards must also have the flexibility and fortitude to design incentive compensation structures as they see fit to align with long-term strategies, while still rewarding short-term achievements that enable those long-term goals.

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Some worry that any further job-market weakening could feed on itself to cause a broader economic slowdown, while other economists hope that new tax incentives and less trade-war uncertainty could help hiring recover next year.

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Related Words

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