incentive

CEFRC1

/ɪnˈsɛntɪv/

noun · adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    Something that encourages someone to act.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A bonus or reward, often monetary, to work harder.

Examples

  • Promotion was an incentive to harder work.

  • There is no incentive for people to save fuel.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
3

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. Inciting; encouraging or moving; rousing to action; stimulating.

  2. Something that motivates, rouses, or encourages.

adjective

Extra meaning

  1. Serving to kindle or set on fire.

More examples

In context

  • We lack an incentive for pursuing the eastern market.

  • I have no incentive to do housework right now.

  • Management offered the sales team a $500 incentive for each car sold.

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The company offered a cash blank to employees who exceeded their sales targets.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Medieval Latin incentīvus (“that strikes up or sets the tune”), from incinō (“to strike up”), from in- (“in, on”) + canō (“to sing”) + -ive. The formation appears to have been influenced by incendō (“to set on fire”).