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Definition of "incentive" []

  • Something, such as the fear of punishment or the expectation of reward, that induces action or motivates effort. (noun)
  • Serving to induce or motivate: an incentive bonus for high productivity. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "incentive" in a sentence
  • "Another incentive is the tax and duty-free importation of raw materials to be used for book publishing."
  • ""It's some incentive, but the incentive is always to win," Baker says."
  • "Any extra incentive is a plus, and when you have a whole team that wants to shove Selig's Death Wish down his throat, it can only help."