motivator

American  

[moh-tuh-vey-ter] / ˈmoʊ təˌveɪ tər /

noun

1. a person or thing that gives people an incentive or reason for acting.

   He's a great teacher and coach—a master motivator both in the classroom and on the basketball court.

   Money is important, but often it isn't the primary motivator when a candidate accepts a job offer.

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Other Word Forms

• demotivator
  noun

Etymology

Origin of motivator

motivat(e) ( def. ) + -or ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

But, for me, he's been way out of his depth as a motivator and tactical coach and lacked the aura to lead at such a dysfunctional club.

From BBC • May 3, 2026

“He’s a worker and I think he’s a motivator and I’m all in,” Roberts said.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2025

Self-will is a powerful motivator, and it may have served you well up until now.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 10, 2025

Safety is the biggest motivator for Steven, who cited cases such as the triple death crash in St Mellons in 2023 when it took police two days to find the car involved.

From BBC • Nov. 29, 2025

There was another motivator; Terryl remembered her mother-in- law, Alan’s mother, as someone who “didn’t get out of bed, because all she wanted to do was watch TV.”

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

Related Words

• instigator
• mover