motivational

American  

[moh-tuh-vey-shuh-nl] / ˌmoʊ təˈveɪ ʃə nl /

adjective

1. of or relating to motivation, a person's reason for acting in a certain way.

   The research investigated the motivational factors influencing people’s decision to volunteer with community organizations.

2. inspiring or seeking to inspire people to act in a certain way, especially so as to overcome obstacles and achieve success, happiness, etc..

   He mentors inner city youth, telling his motivational story at local schools.

   Since her diagnosis, she has become an HIV/AIDS educator, motivational speaker, and activist.

---

Other Word Forms

• antimotivational adjective
• nonmotivational adjective

Etymology

Origin of motivational

motivation ( def. ) + -al ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

Anything motivational makes you want to do something — or at least be willing to do it. When you're training your dog, the treats in your pocket can be used as motivational tools. If someone gives a motivational speech, their purpose is to try to get people excited about doing or trying something. A football coach's motivational talk to his team, for example, is intended to inspire the players to win the game. In other words, what the coach says motivates the team to play well. Both motivate and motivational come from the Old French motif, "drive or motivation," from motivus, "moving" in Medieval Latin.

Example Sentences

Saturday’s event also featured appearances by a cadre of “superstars,” including investor Cathie Wood, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino, motivational speaker Tony Robbins and boxer Mike Tyson.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

Some big names expected at the event are venture capitalist Tim Draper, motivational speaker Tony Robbins, boxer Mike Tyson and fund manager Cathie Wood.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026

The walls of one of the rooms in the centre were painted with motivational messages, such as "Money Coming From Everywhere" in Chinese letters.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

Through Stacy’s fetching sadness, we come to know that maybe a certain motivational speaker was right.

From Salon • Mar. 23, 2026

The workers who knew him well were unsurprised, while the newer ones would often be startled, thinking his behavior a bizarre sort of motivational method.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers