income

[ in-kuhm ]

noun

1. revenue received for goods or services, or from other sources, as rents or investments:

   For years, her only source of income was the small number of stocks her father left her.

2. the money, or amount of money, received from one’s employment:

   a household with three incomes;

   a healthcare worker with an income that hasn’t increased in five years.

   Synonyms: earnings, wages, salary, return, gains, annuity, interest

   Antonyms: expenditure, outgo

3. something that comes in as an addition or increase, especially by chance.
4. Archaic. a coming in.

income

/ ˈɪnkəm; ˈɪnkʌm /

noun

1. the amount of monetary or other returns, either earned or unearned, accruing over a given period of time
2. receipts; revenue
3. rare.
   an inflow or influx

income

1. The amount of money received during a period of time in exchange for labor or services , from the sale of goods or property, or as a profit from financial investments .

Other Words From

• in·come·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of income¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English: literally, “that which has come in,” noun use of incomen (past participle of incomen “to come in”), Old English incuman; in, come

Word History and Origins

Origin of income¹

C13 (in the sense: arrival, entrance): from Old English incumen a coming in

Example Sentences

The Peterson Institute for International Economics forecasts that, combined with steep tariffs and mass deportation, these measures could lead to lower national income, reduced employment and inflation rates between 6% and 9.3% by 2026.

From Salon

The company’s income before taxes in the fourth quarter decreased 6% to $900 million, though for the year it hit $7.6 billion, up from $4.8 billion a year earlier.

From Los Angeles Times

The company’s streaming business reported $321 million in operating income for the quarter.

From Los Angeles Times

The sports business’ operating income totaled $929 million for the quarter, down 5% from a year earlier.

From Los Angeles Times

Revenue rose 1% to $8.2 billion, while operating income fell 6% to $1.6 billion.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cash
• compensation
• earnings
• interest
• livelihood
• pay
• proceeds
• profit
• revenue
• royalty
• salary
• wage