What does increment mean?
An increment is a small, deliberate increase in a larger amount, such as a rise in wages, prices, quantities, or measurements. The word is especially useful when the focus is on the size of a step rather than the overall change. For example, a company may award an annual increment to an employee’s salary, while a calculator may increase a displayed number through an increment key. In computing, “increment” commonly describes adding a fixed amount, often one, to a counter or variable. As a verb, increment means to increase a value in this way. Although it can be used in everyday speech, increment is somewhat more formal and technical than the broader word increase. Its association with regular, measurable steps makes it useful in financial, scientific, administrative, and programming contexts.
A small increase in an amount, value, or level; also, the amount by which something increases, especially as a regular step.
"The monthly rent increased by a small increment at the beginning of the year."
Often used in formal, financial, technical, or administrative contexts.
To increase a value, quantity, or counter, especially by a fixed or regular amount.
"The program increments the counter once for each item processed."
Common in computing and technical contexts; less common in everyday conversation than “increase.”
The plural is used for separate increases or amounts added to a larger quantity.
"The figures increased in small increments throughout the year."
From the Latin word for “growth,” increment became a useful computing term for the action of moving a counter up by exactly one.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does increment come from?
The word comes from Latin incrementum, a noun meaning “an increase” or “growth,” derived from increscere, “to grow” or “increase.” English borrowed the noun in the 17th century, and the verb “to increment” developed later. The same Latin root is reflected in related forms such as increase, crescendo, and decrescendo, the last of which combines growth with a prefix meaning “down.”
Related word forms
How increment is actually used
In general use, increment is often more formal or technical than increase, and it commonly suggests a regular, relatively small step. In computing, it is standard terminology for increasing a counter or value by a defined amount.
Easily confused with increment
An increase often emphasizes the resulting rise or enlargement, whereas an increment more often means the specific amount or step by which something grows.
An increment increases a value, while a decrement decreases it.