impetus

[im-pi-tuh s] /ˈɪm pɪ təs/
noun, plural impetuses.
1.
a moving force; impulse; stimulus:
The grant for building the opera house gave impetus to the city's cultural life.
2.
(broadly) the momentum of a moving body, especially with reference to the cause of motion.
Origin
1650-60; < Latin: an attack, literally, a rushing into, perhaps by haplology from *impetitus (though the expected form would be *impetītus; see appetite), equivalent to impetī-, variant stem of impetere to attack (im- im-1 + petere to make for, assault) + -tus suffix of v. action
Can be confused
impetus, impotence, sterility.
Synonyms
1. stimulation, spur, boost.
Examples from the web for impetus
  • The games have added impetus to a number of policies and projects, likely boosting odds for the bag ban's implementation.
  • Exports have provided the primary impetus for industrialization.
  • These issues disclose an important fact: science has been stymied by a major impetus.
  • In the forties and fifties a lot of the impetus behind the organizing on behalf of social equality was catalyzed by unions.
  • Already, with the impetus of health reform, local leaders are discovering that they actually can innovate.
  • With gasoline being such a good energy carrier, and relatively cheap, there wasn't much impetus to develop the alternatives.
  • But its real impetus seems to be fears on the right about the country's minority populations.
  • There should be enough impetus to curb emissions even without the bears dying.
  • Their unique behavior and amazing abilities are the impetus for fascinating research.
  • Fear of environmental contamination as the result of nuclear fallout was the original impetus for pushing a test-ban treaty.
British Dictionary definitions for impetus

impetus

/ˈɪmpɪtəs/
noun (pl) -tuses
1.
an impelling movement or force; incentive or impulse; stimulus
2.
(physics) the force that sets a body in motion or that tends to resist changes in a body's motion
Word Origin
C17: from Latin: attack, from impetere to assail, from im- (in) + petere to make for, seek out
Word Origin and History for impetus
n.

early 15c., impetous "rapid movement, rush;" 1640s, with modern spelling, "force with which a body moves, driving force," from Latin impetus "attack, assault, onset, impulse, violence, vigor, force, passion," related to impetere "to attack," from assimilated form of in- "into, in, on, upon" (see in- (2)) + petere "aim for, rush at" (see petition (n.)).