Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Motivation has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior
"we did not understand his motivation"
"he acted with the best of motives"
the act of motivating; providing incentive
"The manager's primary goal was to increase motivation among the staff by offering generous bonuses and public recognition."
Willingness of action especially in behavior.
"Her strong motivation led her to train every day until she mastered the difficult skill."
In plain English: Motivation is what pushes you to start and keep doing something because you want to do it.
"Her strong motivation to succeed kept her working late every night."
Usage: Motivation refers to the internal drive that prompts someone to take action, distinguishing it from external factors like rewards or pressure. Use this word when describing why a person chooses to behave in a certain way rather than simply stating what they did.
The word entered English from French as motivation, formed by adding the suffix -ion to the verb motivate. It originally referred to the act of providing a reason or incentive for action, which remains its core meaning today.