motivation

[moh-tuh-vey-shuh n]

noun

the act or an instance of motivating, or providing with a reason to act in a certain way: I don't understand what her motivation was for quitting her job.

the state or condition of being motivated or having a strong reason to act or accomplish something: We know that these students have strong motivation to learn.

something that motivates; inducement; incentive: Clearly, the company's long-term motivation is profit.

Origin of motivation

First recorded in 1870–75; motive + -ation

Related formsmo·ti·va·tion·al, adjectivemo·ti·va·tive, adjectivean·ti·mo·ti·va·tion·al, adjectivede·mo·ti·va·tion, nounnon·mo·ti·va·tion, nounnon·mo·ti·va·tion·al, adjectivere·mo·ti·va·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for motivative

motivation

noun

the act or an instance of motivating

desire to do; interest or drive

incentive or inducement

psychol the process that arouses, sustains and regulates human and animal behaviour

Derived Formsmotivational, adjectivemotivative, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for motivative

motivation

1873, from motivate + -ion. Psychological use, "inner or social stimulus for an action," is from 1904.