motive
An incentive to act in a particular way; a reason or emotion that makes one want to do something; anything that prompts a choice of action.
Other meanings
Something which causes someone to want to commit a crime; a reason for criminal behaviour.
“What would his motive be for burning down the cottage?”
A party, gathering, or get-together.
Related words
- motivology
- unmotived
- appeal to motive
- by-motive
- leading motive
- motiveless
- motive power
- motive power depot
- profit motive
- ulterior motive
- submotive
Word history
From Latin "motivum" (motive, moving cause).
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “motive” on Wiktionary, by its contributors, published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.