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

… won a reputation as a leader and a motivator …

—Leonard Silk

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

However, earning supplemental income and creating financial flexibility are the top motivators. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 18 Nov. 2025

About 83% of people list it as the most important consideration—right next to job security—with pay ranked in third as a motivator at 82%. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 17 Nov. 2025

But for Viau, the stats are not the motivator. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Nov. 2025

Jace was concerned Mikayla wouldn’t have the motivation to work through this stuff, but the therapist reminded them that building a better relationship as an example for their kids could be a powerful motivator. —Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined above