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Perk vs Incentive - What's the difference?

perk | incentive |

As nouns the difference between perk and incentive

is that perk is {{cx|informal|lang=en}} Perquisite while incentive is something that motivates, rouses, or encourages.

As adjectives the difference between perk and incentive

is that perk is smart; trim; spruce; jaunty; vain while incentive is inciting; encouraging or moving; rousing to action; stimulating.

As a verb perk

is shortened form of percolate.

perk

English

Etymology 1

From perquisite, by abbreviation.

Alternative forms

* (l) (less common)

Noun

(en noun)
  • Perquisite.
  • Free coffee is one of the perks of the job.

    Etymology 2

    From percolate (verb) and percolator (noun), by abbreviation.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • Shortened form of percolate.
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • A percolator, particularly of coffee.
  • Etymology 3

    The origin is .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To become more lively or enthusiastic.
  • To exalt oneself; to bear oneself loftily.
  • * Barrow
  • to perk over them
  • To make trim or smart; to straighten up; to erect; to make a jaunty or saucy display of.
  • to perk''' the ears; to '''perk up one's head
    (Cowper)
    (Sherburne)
    Derived terms
    * perk up * perky

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • smart; trim; spruce; jaunty; vain
  • * Spenser
  • Perk as a peacock.

    Etymology 4

    The origin is .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (dated) To peer; to look inquisitively.
  • (Charles Dickens)
    ----

    incentive

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something that motivates, rouses, or encourages.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-07, author=David Simpson
  • , volume=188, issue=26, page=36, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Fantasy of navigation , passage=It is tempting to speculate about the incentives or compulsions that might explain why anyone would take to the skies in [the] basket [of a balloon]: perhaps out of a desire to escape the gravity of this world or to get a preview of the next; […].}}
  • A bonus or reward, often monetary, to work harder.
  • Antonyms

    * disincentive

    Derived terms

    * incentivise/incentivize, tax incentive

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Inciting; encouraging or moving; rousing to action; stimulating.
  • * Dr. H. More
  • Competency is the most incentive to industry.
  • Serving to kindle or set on fire.
  • * Milton
  • Part incentive reed / Provide, pernicious with one touch of fire.