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

During the conversation, Stacey explained how the athletes were one of the main motivators in the retailer’s decision to partner with Unrivaled last year. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 29 Jan. 2026

McVay, a Shanahan disciple, is considered one of the best Xs and Os minds in football, and one of the best motivators. —Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 24 Jan. 2026

Work-life balance today dominates workplace discourse, and now outranks pay as a top motivator for job seekers, according to Randstad. —Jake Angelo, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026

Coach Sean Payton is a great motivator and will use Nix’s injury as fuel. —Greg Cote january 22, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined above