income

noun

in·​come ˈin-ˌkəm 

 also  ˈin-kəm,

 or  ˈiŋ-kəm

1

: a gain or recurrent benefit usually measured in money that derives from capital or labor

also : the amount of such gain received in a period of time

has an income of $30,000 a year

2

: a coming in : entrance, influx

fluctuations in the nutrient income of a body of water

Synonyms

• revenue
• profit

Examples of income in a Sentence

Any income from investments must be reported.

Farming is his main source of income.

Even on two incomes, we're having a hard time keeping up with our bills.

He earns a good income as a consultant.

What was the company's annual income?

Recent Examples on the Web

The Policy Forum’s analysis found that educators in Wisconsin’s small districts were more likely to exit their jobs, as well as those working in urban districts and districts with mostly low-income students or students of color. —Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025

Among the group's priorities is funding the coalition's affordable housing trust fund, which was created to provide homes for households with an annual income of less than $30,000. —Elizabeth B. Kim, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Oct. 2025

Half the scholarships were distributed to families without regard to income. —Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 6 Oct. 2025

The additional funding will allow Rx Kids to expand to more low-income communities and reach about 100,000 babies over the next three years. —Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 6 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing income

• discretionary income
• disposable income
• income account
• income bond
• income tax
• (income) tax return
• low-income housing
• national income
• negative income tax

Rhymes for income

• become
• checksum
• humdrum
• outcome
• succumb
• therefrom
• wherefrom
• abomasum
• bum
• chum
• come
• crum

Kids Definition

income

noun

in·​come ˈin-ˌkəm 

: a gain usually measured in money that comes in from labor, business, or property

Legal Definition

income

noun

in·​come

: a gain or recurrent benefit usually measured in money that derives from capital or labor

also : the amount of such gain received in a period of time

an income of $20,000 a year