• IPA: /ɪnˈsɛntɪv/

incentive (plural incentives)

1. Something that motivates, rouses, or encourages.

   I have no incentive to do housework right now.

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

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

• disincentive

• French: intérêt, motivation
• German: Anreiz, Ansporn
• Portuguese: incentivo, motivação
• Russian: сти́мул
• Spanish: incentivo, aliciente

• French: récompense
• German: Bonus
• Portuguese: incentivo
• Russian: поощре́ние
• Spanish: incentivo

incentive

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

   • Competency is the most incentive to industry.

2. Serving to kindle or set on fire.
   • 1667, John Milton, “Book 6”, in Paradise Lost. A Poem Written in Ten Books, London: Printed [by Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […] [a]nd by Robert Boulter […] [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], OCLC 228722708 ↗; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: The Text Exactly Reproduced from the First Edition of 1667: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, OCLC 230729554 ↗:

     Part incentive reed / Provide, pernicious with one touch of fire.