motivator

noun

mo·​ti·​va·​tor ˈmō-tə-ˌvā-tər 

plural motivators

: one that motivates or impels someone or something

a subconscious motivator of behavior

: such as

a

: a factor or situation that causes people to feel motivated to do something : incentive

Only a fool, though, would deny that money is a very real and basic need and, of course, a motivator of sorts.

—Robert W. Corl

Exercising with someone else … can be a motivator.

—Joanne Lannin

Andre Harris, without basketball as a motivator, had slipped back into bad habits academically.

—John Feinstein

b

: a person who motivates others

But Romo's not an enabler; he's a motivator, says [Jessica] Simpson. "If I'm not feeling good about myself, he'll say, 'Get your butt up and go to the gym then!'"

—Michelle Tan

Examples of motivator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Change your motivators and reward yourself during and after tasks. —Kristen Rogers, CNN, 27 Jan. 2025

According to the Shopify Data, 52% of global consumers prefer to shop with small or independent businesses, citing unique designs, personal connections, and ethical practices as key motivators. —Kate Hardcastle, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025

The dad of three, who turned 80 in November 2024, said that his growing family is one of his biggest motivators. —Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 21 Jan. 2025

For the first time in the 22-year history of Randstad's annual review of the world of work, surpassed pay (79 percent) as a key motivator for employees. —Aliss Higham, Newsweek, 21 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above