gamification
noun
J. J. Rosen
Did you know?
The basic concept of gamification isn't new, but the word itself is a 21st-century addition to the English lexicon. The word refers to the incorporation of game elements, like point and reward systems, to tasks as incentives for people to participate. In other words, gamification is about making something potentially tedious into a game. Gamification is effective because it taps into people's natural desires for competition and achievement. Teachers, managers, and others use gamification to increase participation and improve productivity. Gamification is also often an essential feature in apps and websites designed to motivate people to meet personal challenges, like weight-loss goals and learning foreign languages; tracking your progress is more fun if it feels like a game.
Examples of gamification in a Sentence
Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025
Other updates include gamification, digital coupons, and on-screen promotions designed to bring more of the company’s online shopping features into stores.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Sep. 2025
But in the summer of 2023, when Fedorov first suggested his system of gamification, top military brass rejected the concept.
—Simon Shuster, Time, 24 Sep. 2025
Where gamification may keep users engaged for a short time, Airlearn’s model seeks to keep them engaged by building visible progress in communication skills.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gamification
Cite this Entry
“Gamification.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gamification. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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