Phrase guide

intrinsic motivation

noun · 1 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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The incentive to undertake an activity based on the expected enjoyment of the activity itself, rather than external benefits that might result.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: human-sciences, psychology, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: motivació intrínseca — The incentive to do something based on the expected enjoyment of the activity itself
  • Chinese Mandarin: 內在動機 /内在动机 (nèizài dòngjī) — The incentive to do something based on the expected enjoyment of the activity itself
  • Finnish: sisäinen motivaatio — The incentive to do something based on the expected enjoyment of the activity itself
  • Finnish: luontainen motivaatio — The incentive to do something based on the expected enjoyment of the activity itself
  • French: motivation intrinsèque — The incentive to do something based on the expected enjoyment of the activity itself
  • German: intrinsische Motivation — The incentive to do something based on the expected enjoyment of the activity itself
  • Polish: wewnętrzna motywacja — The incentive to do something based on the expected enjoyment of the activity itself
  • Spanish: motivación intrínseca — The incentive to do something based on the expected enjoyment of the activity itself
  • Thai: แรงจูงใจภายใน (rɛɛng-juung-jai-paai-nai) — The incentive to do something based on the expected enjoyment of the activity itself