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Definition of incentive noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

incentive

noun
 
 
/ɪnˈsentɪv/
 
/ɪnˈsentɪv/
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  1.  
    [countable, uncountable] incentive (for/to somebody/something) (to do something) something that encourages you to do something
    • There is no incentive for people to save fuel.
    • There is an added incentive for you to buy from our new range—a free gift with every purchase.
    opposite disincentive
    Extra Examples
    • She had the added incentive of being within reach of the world record.
    • This gives pupils a strong incentive to read in English.
    • It was thought that this would act as an incentive for couples to adopt older children.
    • Low levels of profitability mean there is a lack of incentive to undertake new investment.
    • There was little incentive to conduct research.
    • US companies faced a clear incentive to downsize.
    • There is little incentive for firms to increase the skills of their workers.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • big
    • generous
    • good
    • …
    verb + incentive
    • act as
    • be
    • have
    • …
    incentive + noun
    • plan
    • programme/​program
    • scheme
    • …
    preposition
    • incentive to
    phrases
    • have every incentive
    • a lack of incentive
    See full entry
  2.  
    [countable] a payment or concession (= a reduction in the amount of money that has to be paid) that encourages somebody to do something
    • tax incentives to encourage savings
    Extra Examples
    • This gives them a direct financial incentive to reduce pollution.
    • The scheme gives farmers cash incentives to help manage the countryside.
    • The government decided to offer incentives to foreign investors.
    • employee incentives such as bonuses and commission
    • direct financial incentives to have smaller families
    • The company operates a share incentive scheme for its workers.
    Topics Moneyc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • big
    • generous
    • good
    • …
    verb + incentive
    • act as
    • be
    • have
    • …
    incentive + noun
    • plan
    • programme/​program
    • scheme
    • …
    preposition
    • incentive to
    phrases
    • have every incentive
    • a lack of incentive
    See full entry
    3. Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin incentivum ‘something that sets the tune or incites’, from incantare ‘to chant or charm’.
See incentive in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee incentive in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: incentive

Nearby words

elaborate
adjective
 
 
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