incentive

American  

[in-sen-tiv] / ɪnˈsɛn tɪv /

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

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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

Related Words

See motive.

Other Word Forms

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

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

He added that “it’s an incentive — it’s a reward for achieving great performance.”

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

Today, in the podcasting world, Kelly is encountering a different incentive structure.

From Slate • May 6, 2026

Before “Tracker” secured the highest TV show tax credit, Season 3 of Amazon’s “Fallout,” which relocated from New York to Los Angeles, received a $42-million incentive.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

Carriers said last month that demand has been resilient despite higher fares, giving them little incentive to pull back their prices.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

But the bicycle incentive was great, and there was always the fear that a younger brother or sister would skip and land in your class.

From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey

Related Words

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