instigation

UK: /ˌɪnstɪˈgeɪʃ^ən/ US: /ˌɪnstɪˈgeɪʃən/ ,(in′sti gā′shən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•sti•ga•tion  (in′sti gā′shən), n. 

1. the act of instigating;
   incitement.
2. an incentive.

• Latin instīgātiōn- (stem of instīgātiō). See instigate, ion
• late Middle English 1375–1425

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•sti•gate /ˈɪnstɪˌgeɪt/   v., -gat•ed, -gat•ing. 

1. to cause (something) to happen by urging; foment:
   [~ + object] to instigate a quarrel.
2. to urge or provoke to some action:
   [~ + object + to + verb/object] to instigate people to revolt.

in•sti•ga•tion /ˌɪnstɪˈgeɪʃən/  n. [uncountable]
in•sti•ga•tor, n. 

[countable] Blame the riot on those instigators.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•sti•gate  (in′sti gāt′), v.t., -gat•ed, -gat•ing. 

1. to cause by incitement; foment:
   to instigate a quarrel.
2. to urge, provoke, or incite to some action or course:
   to instigate the people to revolt.

• Latin instīgātus past participle of instīgāre to goad on, impel, equivalent. to in- in-² + -stīg- goad, prick (akin to stigma, stick²) + -ātus -ate¹
• 1535–45

in′sti•gat′ing•ly, adv. 
in′sti•ga′tive, adj. 
in′sti•ga′tor, in•sti•gant  (in′sti gənt), n.  Synonyms

• 1. arouse, provoke.
• 2. induce, stimulate, encourage, push; initiate, start.