capital gain

noun

: the increase in value of an asset (such as stock or real estate) between the time it is bought and the time it is sold

Examples of capital gain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Long-term capital gains are taxed at either 0%, 15% or 20%, while short-term gains are taxed as ordinary income, which can have a rate as high as 37%. — Ananya Chetia, CNBC, 18 July 2026

The least costly and least distorting way to solve the entire financing gap is to extend Social Security's base beyond paychecks to capital income -- capital gains, dividends, interest and pass-through business income. — Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

New York City has the highest income tax, capital gains tax and dividend tax. — Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 17 July 2026

Stevens went on to comb through some of el Sayed’s finances, including capital gains, property sales, and other income sources. — Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 17 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for capital gain

• cyclopropane
• legerdemain
• nitromethane
• ultramontane
• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine

Legal Definition

capital gain

see also:

gain