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

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

This was, to all appearances, no casual aside; rather, the question that prompted Miller’s remark had all the earmarks of being planted in advance. —Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 12 May 2025

In April 2024, Huffman secured a $1 million federal earmark to be used to help relocate dairy farms. —Richard Halstead, Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2025

Verb

The Senate budget analysis has $100 million earmarked for Prop. 36. —Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2025

But this funding model has been earmarked for change under a House Republican budget bill, which is currently being considered in the Senate. —Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025

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