Skip to content

incentive

noun

  1. something that motivates an individual to perform an action
L13002 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ɪnˈsɛntɪv/

adj

Etymology: From Medieval Latin incentīvus (“that strikes up or sets the tune”), from incinō (“to strike up”), from in- (“in, on”) + canō (“to sing”) + -ive. The formation appears to have been influenced by incendō (“to set on fire”).

  1. Inciting; encouraging or moving; rousing to action; stimulating.

    Competency is of all other proportions the most incentive to industry.

  2. Serving to kindle or set on fire.

    Part incentive reed / Provide, pernicious with one touch of fire.

noun

Etymology: From Medieval Latin incentīvus (“that strikes up or sets the tune”), from incinō (“to strike up”), from in- (“in, on”) + canō (“to sing”) + -ive. The formation appears to have been influenced by incendō (“to set on fire”).

  1. Something that motivates, rouses, or encourages.

    I have no incentive to do housework right now.

    It is tempting to speculate about the incentives or compulsions that might explain why anyone would take to the skies in [the] basket [of a balloon]: perhaps out of a desire to escape the gravity of this world or to get a preview of the next; […].

  2. A bonus or reward, often monetary, to work harder.

    Management offered the sales team a $500 incentive for each car sold.