incentive

noun in·cen·tive \ in-ˈsen-tiv \

Updated on: 10 Nov 2017

Definition of incentive

:something that incites or has a tendency to incite to determination or action

—

incentive

adjective

See incentive defined for English-language learners

See incentive defined for kids

Examples of incentive in a Sentence

The rising cost of electricity provides a strong incentive to conserve energy.
The government offers special tax incentives for entrepreneurs.
The company is offering a special low price as an added incentive for new customers.

Recent Examples of incentive from the Web

Behavioral therapies that provide addicts with skills instead of in-the-moment incentives are generally viewed as more sustainable over the long term.

— beth warren, The Courier-Journal, "Drug-addiction treatment demystified: How effective are they and who's a good candidate?," 12 Oct. 2017
Raising the top rate now would reverse the Reagan reform, not replicate it, and nearing 60% is way back up the Laffer Curve of damaging incentives.

— the editorial board, WSJ, "A Million-Dollar Mistake," 27 Oct. 2017
The sweeping tax overhaul House Republicans introduced on Thursday would eliminate or scale back some of the biggest incentives for home-buying in federal law.

— russell berman, The Atlantic, "Have Republicans Abandoned the Ownership Society?," 4 Nov. 2017
News of the project broke Wednesday, but documents spelling out the amount of incentives were released about 90 minutes before the state economic development board met Thursday.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "When Your First Move Is to Threaten Lynching, Maybe Something's Wrong," 31 Aug. 2017
Most MPs support the idea of simplifying the benefits system, and of removing some of the perverse incentives that existed under the old one.

— The Economist, "Universal credit causes Theresa May's latest defeat in Parliament," 18 Oct. 2017
The number of gun manufacturers in Florida has quadrupled, thanks to the hand-out of tax incentives to dutifully serve the interests of the powerful National Rifle Association, which bankrolls political campaigns.

— fabiola santiago, miamiherald, "When you ‘Pray for Las Vegas,’ what is God telling you about gun control?," 3 Oct. 2017
The Global Operations Center won more than $100 million worth of incentives from the city, county and state to locate at The Banks.

— alexander coolidge, Cincinnati.com, "GE hiring at The Banks stalls," 29 Oct. 2017
And with limited ability to sell their lands, peasants lacked the usual set of incentives to compare their prospects as farmers with alternative occupations, and make an independent choice for what might suit them best.

— stephen f. williams, National Review, "A Telling Anniversary," 20 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'incentive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of incentive

Middle English, from Late Latin incentivum, from neuter of incentivus stimulating, from Latin, setting the tune, from incentus, past participle of incinere to play (a tune), from in- + canere to sing — more at chant

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

incentive Synonyms

Synonyms

boost, encouragement, goad, impetus, impulse, incitation, incitement, instigation, momentum, motivation, provocation, spur, stimulant, stimulus, yeast

Antonyms

counterincentive, disincentive

Related Words

inducement, invitation; antecedent, cause, consideration, grounds, motive, occasion, reason; catalyst, catalyzer, fuel, spark

Synonym Discussion of incentive

motive, impulse, incentive, inducement, spur, goad mean a stimulus to action. motive implies an emotion or desire operating on the will and causing it to act.