income

noun

in·​come ˈin-ˌkəm How to pronounce income (audio)
 also  ˈin-kəm,
 or  ˈiŋ-kəm
1
: a gain or recurrent benefit usually measured in money that derives from capital or labor
also : the amount of such gain received in a period of time
has an income of $30,000 a year
2
: a coming in : entrance, influx
fluctuations in the nutrient income of a body of water

Examples of income in a Sentence

Any income from investments must be reported. Farming is his main source of income. Even on two incomes, we're having a hard time keeping up with our bills. He earns a good income as a consultant. What was the company's annual income?
Recent Examples on the Web Applicants must be members of the 100 Percenters community and must have at least two years of professional experience, have three or more commercial songwriting or producer credits, be a U.S. citizen, earn an annual income of less than $100,000 and submit verifiable proof of income. Kristin Robinson, Billboard, 14 Mar. 2024 But how much of your income actually disappears into a black hole of graft and jingoism? Dennard Dayle, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2024 Heat exposure lowers labor productivity, which undermines many people's incomes and in turn their ability to sustain good mental and physical health. Rob Reddick, WIRED, 13 Mar. 2024 The loss of €58 million ($63.4 million) last year compared to a net income of €254 million ($277.61 million) in 2022, marking Adidas’s first annual net loss since 1992, according to Reuters. Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 13 Mar. 2024 TikTok users who make their living on the app have complained that losing access to the app would plummet their incomes. Lauren Feiner, The Verge, 13 Mar. 2024 Recently, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D) spoke in favor of a bill that would raise the income tax rate for high-income earners. Nicole Asbury, Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2024 The company reported operating income of $80 million, down from $173 million in Q4 2022. Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Feb. 2024 Based on input, ITA determines if a person should file a tax return, their filing status if someone is an eligible dependent, if a type of income is taxable if a filer is eligible to claim a credit, or if an expense is deductible. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'income.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of income was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near income

Cite this Entry

“Income.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/income. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

income

noun
in·​come ˈin-ˌkəm How to pronounce income (audio)
: a gain usually measured in money that comes in from labor, business, or property

Legal Definition

income

noun
in·​come
: a gain or recurrent benefit usually measured in money that derives from capital or labor
also : the amount of such gain received in a period of time
an income of $20,000 a year

More from Merriam-Webster on income

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