A corporate-jargon non-word meaning "motivate," coined in 1968. Some 10 years later, it was shortened to the equally annoying verb "incent." Unfortunately, both are recognized by both Merriam-Webster and the OED.
The only respectable form of the word is the noun "incentive."
The only respectable form of the word is the noun "incentive."
I would like to motivate him to never say "incentivize" again by telling him I will rip his windpipe out of his throat the next time I hear him say it.
I hope everyone who says "incentivize" in earnest knows they come across as a jargon-spewing ahole.
I hope everyone who says "incentivize" in earnest knows they come across as a jargon-spewing ahole.
by StephakneeSays July 13, 2008
This poetic melding of incentive and motivation was coined by John Howard, the Austraian Prim Minister, late last century, but failed to grip the national imagination.
It is now a bit of a joke, kind of like the Liberation of Iraq.
It is now a bit of a joke, kind of like the Liberation of Iraq.
by RunSlimDJ July 14, 2005
by Dipshito April 26, 2007
Verb, apparently. American version of the much simpler root word "incent".
Why they can't seem to cope with this much simpler word, I don't know.. obviously doesn't sound important enough.
Why they can't seem to cope with this much simpler word, I don't know.. obviously doesn't sound important enough.
From dictionary.com (yes, that's right, it's listed - to make matters worse, their definition of "incent" says, "to incentivize"):
"This bill will help incentivize everybody to solve that part of the problem” (Richard A. Gephardt)."
How absurd is that. Gah.
"This bill will help incentivize everybody to solve that part of the problem” (Richard A. Gephardt)."
How absurd is that. Gah.
by Grammar Police Sgt Killgore October 15, 2004
