Definition of "incent" [incent]

• To incentivize: "would use tax breaks to incent corporations to invest in their future” ( Scott Canon). (verb-transitive)

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.

• "The word incent represents an appalling abuse of the English language."
• "My brother, who teaches high school in a Chicago suburb, recently told me that his school board is now throwing around the word "incent," as in "we want to incent our students to optimize their educational outcomes.""
• "Now that people have had a few (small) doses of Arnespeak (like "incent" as a verb), it's time to get ready for the full foulness of the programs."