revenue

noun

rev·​e·​nue ˈre-və-ˌnü 

-ˌnyü

often attributive

1

: the total income produced by a given source

a property expected to yield a large annual revenue

2

: the gross income returned by an investment

3

: the yield of sources of income (such as taxes) that a political unit (such as a nation or state) collects and receives into the treasury for public use

4

: a government department concerned with the collection of the national revenue

Synonyms of revenue

• income
• profit
• proceeds
• earnings
• return
• yield
• incoming(s)

Examples of revenue in a Sentence

The factory lost revenue because of the strike by the workers.

The firm is looking for another source of revenue.

Government officials have reported a decrease in revenue.

state and federal tax revenues

Recent Examples on the Web

Beyond those three priorities, cash could be saved or paid out to UCSD, though a specific revenue split is not included in the document. —Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Dec. 2025

Schools have a declining foreign customer base Another enrollment remedy for colleges and universities to boost tuition revenue has been focusing on admitting international students, who typically pay full price. —Andrew P. Morriss, The Conversation, 3 Dec. 2025

Von der Leyen stressed that cutting reliance on Russian energy has significantly reduced Moscow’s revenues used to finance its war effort. —Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025

The district is exploring ways to bring in more revenue, including the possibility of selling properties and asking for donations in property tax bills. —Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, return, revenue, from Anglo-French, from revenir to return, from Latin revenire, from re- + venire to come — more at come

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing revenue

• revenue bond
• revenue cutter
• revenue stamp
• revenue tariff

Rhymes for revenue

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou

Kids Definition

revenue

noun

rev·​e·​nue ˈrev-ə-ˌn(y)ü 

1

: the income produced by a given source

2

: the income that a government collects for public use

Legal Definition

revenue

noun

rev·​e·​nue ˈre-və-ˌnü, -ˌnyü 

often attributive

1

: the total income produced by a given source

a property expected to yield a large annual revenue

2

: the gross income returned by an investment

3

: the yield of sources of income (as taxes) that a political unit (as a nation or state) collects and receives into the treasury for public use

4

: a government department concerned with the collection of national revenue