earmark

1 of 2

noun

ear·​mark ˈir-ˌmärk 

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

earmark

2 of 2

verb

earmarked; earmarking; earmarks

transitive verb

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

Synonyms of earmark

Verb

• dedicate
• devote
• save

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

Noun

Fazio’s plan includes proposals that would add additional transparency to the legislative earmark process that was utilized by McCrory to direct money to organizations in his district. — Andrew Brown, Hartford Courant, 11 Sep. 2026

However, there have been dubious tax cuts, politically motivated earmarks, expanded entitlement programs, and outright waste and overspending in the military. — Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Verb

Millions more were supposedly earmarked for Laurent Platini, the son of the president of the European Football Association—and were to be paid around the time that FIFA announced that Qatar had been chosen to host the World Cup. — Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026

Connecticut was among the few states helping to cover the loss of federal health insurance subsidies by earmarking millions of dollars to soften the blow for more than 150,000 Connecticut residents. — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for earmark

• ballpark
• benchmark
• birthmark
• daymark
• embark
• hallmark
• landmark
• monarch
• postmark
• remark
• skylark
• tetrarch

Kids 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 verb

1

: to mark with or as if with an earmark

2

: to set aside for a special purpose

money earmarked for a vacation