1
: a mark of identification on the ear of an animal
2
: a distinguishing mark
all the earmarks of poverty
3
: a provision in Congressional legislation that allocates a specified amount of money for a specific project, program, or organization
earmarked; earmarking; earmarks
1
a
: to mark (livestock) with an earmark
b
: to mark in a distinguishing manner
2
: to designate (something, such as funds) for a specific use or owner
money earmarked for education
Examples of earmark in a Sentence
Verb
The project uses funds that had been earmarked for education.
the earnings from my second job have been earmarked for a down payment on a car
Recent Examples on the Web
Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025
The McGovern center's closure comes just three months after the county considered demolishing the facility and converting it into a new low-income senior housing development, driven by a public-private partnership with the nonprofit Jewish Family Services and a $2 million federal earmark.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Melanie Hicken, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
This additional money has been earmarked for original series production and new initiatives.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for earmark
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Noun
Aside from earmarks, what could Congress do to help alleviate the strain that comes with local projects?
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025
The McGovern center's closure comes just three months after the county considered demolishing the facility and converting it into a new low-income senior housing development, driven by a public-private partnership with the nonprofit Jewish Family Services and a $2 million federal earmark.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
Perlmutter and his wife, Laura, have supported healthcare and education initiatives through their foundation, including a more than $50 million donation to NYU’s Langone Medical Center earmarked for cancer research.
—Melanie Hicken, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
This additional money has been earmarked for original series production and new initiatives.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for earmark
Cite this Entry
“Earmark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earmark. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
earmark
1 of 2 noun
ear·mark
ˈi(ə)r-ˌmärk 
1
: a mark of identification on the ear of an animal
2
: a mark or quality by which something can be identified
the earmarks of success
earmark
2 of 2 verb1
: to mark with or as if with an earmark
2
: to set aside for a special purpose
money earmarked for a vacation
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