Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

incentive

/ɪnˈsɛntɪv/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.97 in modern English

Syllables
in-cen-tive
IPA
/ɪnˈsɛntɪv/
14
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
3
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Something that motivates, rouses, or encourages.

noun

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

adj

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

adj

Serving to kindle or set on fire.

Example Sentences

Etymology

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”).

Word Breakdown

Subject

Wiktionary places this term in Finance.

Inflected Forms

incentives (plural) more incentive (comparative) most incentive (superlative)

Derived Forms

counterincentive incent incentify incentiveless incentively incentivise incentivize misincentive nonincentive

Phrases

eco-incentive tax incentive

Synonyms

carrot inducement motivator bonus

Antonyms

disincentive

Rhymes With

preventive attentive inventive inattentive disincentive intentive fientive

Questions

How do you pronounce incentive?
The recorded pronunciation is /ɪnˈsɛntɪv/.
What does incentive mean?
Something that motivates, rouses, or encourages.
Where does incentive come from?
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”).

How to pronounce incentive

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “incentive”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɪnˈsɛntɪv/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “incentive”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “incentive” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.