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
David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 11 Dec. 2025
But a Senate Republican aide countered that the bill also includes many earmarks requested by Republican senators.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 8 Dec. 2025
Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Long before the World Cup draw was even made, local organizers in Seattle had earmarked a FIFA World Cup match in the city as a chance to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for earmark
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Noun
Notably, leadership has offered a vote to strip earmarks out of the spending legislation entirely, but that amendment is expected to fail on the Senate floor.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 11 Dec. 2025
But a Senate Republican aide countered that the bill also includes many earmarks requested by Republican senators.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 8 Dec. 2025
Verb
Sacramento city and county together earmarked $120 million in taxpayer money — from a mix of local, state and federal sources — on building and staffing eight homeless shelters with a total of about 950 beds since January 2020.
—Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Long before the World Cup draw was even made, local organizers in Seattle had earmarked a FIFA World Cup match in the city as a chance to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 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 19 Dec. 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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