noun
incentive
ihn-SEHN-tihv
noun
1
Something that motivates or encourages a particular action.
"The company offers a cash incentive for employees who refer new hires."
"There's little incentive to work overtime if it isn't paid."
How to Use Incentive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA reason or reward that pushes someone to do something.
Common pairings
financial incentive
tax incentive
incentive to do something
lack of incentive
Word Forms
more incentive comparative, incentives plural, most incentive superlative
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The company offers a cash _____ for employees who refer new hires.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin incentivus, "striking up a tune," from Latin canō, "to sing" — the sense shifted to "motivating" partly under the influence of the unrelated-looking incendō, "to set on fire."