Standard Lemma guide

incentivize

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ɪnˈsɛntɪvaɪz/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To provide incentives for; to encourage.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: British, English, Oxford, US, transitive

Topics: business, economics, sciences

Examples

  • The US government seeks to incentivize home ownership through a favorable tax system.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To provide incentives to.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: British, English, Oxford, US, transitive

Topics: business, economics, sciences

Examples

  • They effectively incentivized people to overinvest in home ownership.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English incentive Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English incentivize From incentive + -ize.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: begünstigen — to provide incentives for (a behavior or action)
  • Spanish: incentivar — to provide incentives for (a behavior or action)
  • German: Anreize schaffen — to provide incentives to (a person or organization)
  • German: belohnen — to provide incentives to (a person or organization)
  • Spanish: incentivar — to provide incentives to (a person or organization)