Incentive
/ɪnˈsɛntɪv/
Definitions
Something that motivates or encourages a person to do something; a stimulus.
/ɪnˈsɛntɪv/
Something that encourages or motivates a person to do something.
The company offered a bonus as an incentive for employees to work overtime.
💡 Simply: An incentive is like a little treat or a promise of something good that makes you want to do something. Like, if your mom says you can have ice cream if you clean your room, the ice cream is the incentive!
👶 For kids: Something that makes you want to do something, like a prize!
More Examples
Lowering taxes is often proposed as an incentive for economic growth.
The government created tax incentives to encourage people to buy electric cars.
How It's Used
"Companies often offer financial incentives to employees who meet sales targets."
"Schools provide incentives, such as awards or privileges, to students who excel academically."
"Economists study how different incentives impact consumer behavior."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
Incentive program
A structured plan to encourage specific behaviors, usually offering rewards or benefits.
"The company launched an incentive program to boost employee productivity."
Give an incentive
To provide something that motivates someone to take a certain action.
"The company decided to give an incentive to its top performing employees."
From Late Latin *incentīvus* ('inciting'), from *incinere* ('to set in, incite'), from *in-* ('in, on') + *canere* ('to sing'). Initially used in the context of encouraging action, especially through reward or persuasion.
Historically, the word was often used in the context of military or political encouragement, alongside business usage.
Memory tip
Think of an 'incentive' as something that 'incites' you to act in a certain way.
Word Origin
"to set in motion, incite"