incentive
Americannoun
adjective
noun
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a motivating influence; stimulus
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an additional payment made to employees as a means of increasing production
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( as modifier )
an incentive scheme
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adjective
Related Words
See motive.
Other Word Forms
- counterincentive noun
- incentively adverb
- nonincentive adjective
- preincentive noun
- superincentive noun
Etymology
Origin of incentive
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Late Latin incentīvus “provocative,” in Latin: “setting the tune,” from incent(us) “played” (past participle of incinere “to play (an instrument, tunes),” from in- in- 2 + -cinere, combining form of canere “to sing”) + -īvus -ive
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That limits the state’s supply of homes for sale, pushing prices higher and increasing the incentive not to sell, said Ken DeLeon, founder of DeLeon Realty in Palo Alto, Calif.
In turn, lower demand has led to price cuts or other incentives as sellers try to attract buyers.
From MarketWatch
There now isn’t incentive for Paramount holders to participate in that rights deal—but if the stock rallies, it could become attractive.
From Barron's
She will seek to make a "Labour case" for "firm and fair" Danish-style immigration policies, which are aimed at reducing incentives for people to enter the UK illegally.
From BBC
Texas is emerging as a US tech world El Dorado, luring investments with cheap energy, relaxed regulations, tax incentives and reasonably affordable real estate for massive data centers.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
