incentive
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incentive
- /ɪnˈsɛntɪv/
Rhymes with -ɛntɪv
Where it comes from
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”).
noun incentives
-
Something that motivates, rouses, or encourages.
I have no incentive to do housework right now.
Similar: carrot
- A bonus or reward, often monetary, to work harder. Management offered the sales team a $500 incentive for each car sold.
Opposite: disincentive
adjective more incentive · most incentive
- Inciting; encouraging or moving; rousing to action; stimulating. Competency is of all other proportions the most incentive to industry.
- Serving to kindle or set on fire. Part incentive reed / Provide, pernicious with one touch of fire.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: inducement, bonus, motivating, motivational, motivation, encourage, drive, stimulus, encouragement, inspiring, encouraging, promotive, incitation, incitement, stimulate, motive
noun
Opposite: disincentive
Translations
Every language
noun something that motivates
| Español | incentivo, aliciente |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 動機 dōki, 誘因 yūin, 刺激 shigeki |
| 中文 | 刺激 cìjī, 誘因 /诱因 yòuyīn |
| Português | incentivo, motivação |
| Français | intérêt, motivation, incitant |
| Deutsch | Anreiz, Ansporn, Incentive |
| Italiano | incentivo |
| Ελληνικά | κίνητρο kínitro |
| Română | stimulent |
| Русский | сти́мул stímul, моти́в motív, мотива́ция motivácija, поощре́ние pooščrénije, толчо́к tolčók |
| עברית | תמריץ tamritz |
noun cash bonus
| Español | incentivo |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 報酬 hōshū, 賞与 shōyo |
| 中文 | 獎勵 /奖励 jiǎnglì, 報酬 /报酬 bàochóu |
| Português | incentivo |
| Français | récompense, prime |
| Deutsch | Bonus |
| Русский | поощре́ние pooščrénije, пре́мия prémija, бо́нус bónus, вознагражде́ние voznagraždénije |
| עברית | תמריץ tamritz |
Talk about this word "incentive." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/incentive. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. incentive. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/incentive "incentive." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/incentive.Cite this
@misc{incentive_2026,
title = {incentive},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/incentive},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
