incentive

/ɪnˈsɛntɪv/

/ɪnˈsɛntɪv/

Other forms: incentives

If your mom wants you to mow the lawn but you don't feel like it, she might offer to treat you to ice cream after as an incentive. An incentive is something that stimulates you to take action or work harder.

This noun dates back to Middle English, from Late Latin incentivum, from incentivus, "stimulating." In Latin, incentivus meant "setting the tune," from incinere, "to sing." The related English verb is incentivize. The less common verb incent was first used in the early 1980s, and has been criticized as business jargon.

Definitions of incentive

1. noun

   a positive motivational influence
   synonyms: inducement, motivator

   antonyms:

   disincentive

   a negative motivational influence

   types:

   dynamic, moral force

   an efficient incentive

   type of:

   rational motive

   a motive that can be defended by reasoning or logical argument
2. noun

   an additional payment (or other remuneration) to employees as a means of increasing output
   synonyms: bonus

   types:

   premium

   a prize, bonus, or award given as an inducement to purchase products, enter competitions initiated by business interests, etc.

   dividend

   a bonus; something extra (especially a share of a surplus)

   sales incentive

   remuneration offered to a salesperson for exceeding some predetermined sales goal

   type of:

   payment

   a sum of money paid or a claim discharged