What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
profit-sharing
Example
The company has a profit-sharing plan that rewards employees for their hard work. [profit-sharing: noun]
Example
The employees were excited to receive their profit-sharing checks at the end of the year. [profit-sharing: adjective]
incentive
Example
The company offers incentives such as bonuses and promotions to motivate employees. [incentives: noun]
Example
The promise of a bonus was a strong incentive for the sales team to meet their targets. [incentive: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Incentive is more commonly used than profit-sharing in everyday language. Incentive is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while profit-sharing is less common and refers specifically to a system of distributing profits among employees.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between profit-sharing and incentive?
Both profit-sharing and incentive can be used in formal and informal contexts. However, profit-sharing may be more formal due to its association with company policies and compensation plans.