What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
incentive
Example
The company offered an incentive for employees who met their sales targets. [incentive: noun]
Example
The promise of a bonus was a strong incentive for the team to work harder. [incentive: modifier]
reward
Example
She received a reward for her excellent performance on the project. [reward: noun]
Example
The satisfaction of completing the task was its own reward. [reward: modifier]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Reward is more commonly used than incentive in everyday language. Reward is a more versatile term that covers a wide range of contexts, while incentive is more commonly used in business or educational settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between incentive and reward?
Both incentive and reward can be used in formal and informal contexts, but incentive is more commonly associated with a formal or business tone, while reward can be used in a wider range of contexts and tones.
