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
Synonym Usage
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.
There’s no stronger attention inducement than a hot IPO like SpaceX.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 2, 2026
Alphabet also might have wanted Berkshire’s involvement as an inducement for other investors to participate because of Berkshire’s outstanding reputation.
From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026
No inducement, it seems, can get him to do this, but Sophocles finds a way to persuade him to go.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026
Special housing, whether on a military base, in a palace or sequestered in a guarded compound, is one such reward and inducement.
From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026
Lazlo watched the delegates’ reactions, and he could understand their incredulity, certainly, but there was a rather large inducement here to believe the unbelievable.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
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.
