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

Family has become the top reason for moving nationally, nudging out jobs, which were the main motivator before the pandemic, Cummings said. —Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026

Food has become a travel motivator in its own right. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 2 Jan. 2026

These motivators align with broader consumer health trends around clean living, aging gracefully, and holistic wellness. —Sara Braun, Charlotte Observer, 29 Dec. 2025

Now that is a powerful motivator. —Lauren Mechling, Vogue, 27 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined above