From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsweetenersweet‧ener /ˈswiːtnə $ -ər/ noun 1 [countable, uncountable]DF a substance used to make food or drink taste sweeter No artificial sweeteners are used in this product.2 [countable] informalPERSUADE something that you give to someone to persuade them to do something, especially to accept a business deal These tax cuts are just a pre-election sweetener.
Examples from the Corpus
sweetener• The new airport is an unpopular development but the government has promised £4 million in grants to the local community as a sweetener.• Most "diet" foods are full of artificial sweeteners.• Why are we content to settle for second-rate flavors, fake chocolates, no-fat cheeses, and chemical-tasting artificial sweeteners?• Artificial additives such as colourings, sweeteners and flavour enhancers aren't permitted in baby foods.• But Devenish shareholders get a dividend sweetener.• No oil, dairy products or sweeteners are added so the principle of slow rise will prevail.• Canderel is made with NutraSweet so, unlike some saccharin sweeteners, it doesn't have a bitter aftertaste.• Added to the sweeteners they'd have to pay back, that would mean a deficit of nearly £130m.• That, Eaton thought, was the sweetener that would surely make Rickey sell.From Longman Business Dictionarysweetenersweet‧ener /ˈswiːtnə-ər/ noun [countable]1something used to make an offer, suggestion etc seem more attractiveThe latest response from the government is a reported £20 million sweetener for UK businesses.As a sweetener, managers who retire by Dec. 30 will receive an extra 15% on their pension.2a BRIBE (=illegal or unfair payment made to someone to persuade them to do something)It had a reputation as a country where every transaction required a sweetener. 