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

But these changes present a huge challenge in a sugar supply chain spanning more than 100 countries and the millions of people that depend on sugar's income.

From Salon

Project 2025’s Medicaid chapter falsely states that the ACA “mandates that states must expand their Medicaid eligibility standards” to include all individuals with income at or below 138% of the federal poverty level.”

From Los Angeles Times

But from this winter, it will be restricted to those on low incomes receiving certain benefits, meaning around 9 million pensioners will no longer get it.

From BBC

But income was well down last year and this year will be even worse, says factory owner Abd al-Rahman Khalifa, as even fewer farmers are able to harvest their crop owing to attacks by settlers.

From BBC

“Linda has been a fierce advocate for Parents’ Rights ... giving children the opportunity to receive an excellent Education, regardless of zip code or income,” Trump said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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