English Reference
Noun

increment

n.
C1 Advanced US /ˈɪnkɹəmənt/ UK /ˈɪnkɹɪmənt/ in·cre·ment UK spelling incremented, incrementing, increments Grammar

n.a small amount that you add to something to make it larger or better. It is often used when talking about money, time, or numbers.

n.a small addition to a quantity, amount, or degree. Often used in technical or financial contexts to describe a specific unit of change.


SIMPLE

The company gives a small increment to employees every year.

CONTEXTUAL

The software update includes a significant increment in processing speed, allowing the system to handle more data at once.

COMPLEX

The researcher noted a steady increment in the subject's blood pressure over the course of the experiment, suggesting a physiological response to the new medication.

Since 1964, the Up series has followed the lives of several perfectly normal people across the social spectrum at increments of seven years.

The Guardian· 28 Aug 2026

From Middle English encrement, increment, from Latin incrēmentum, from incrēscō (whence increase), from in- + crēscō (“grow”). Equivalent to increase + -ment.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin incrēmentum
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated