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 80,000 a year

a two-income family

2

: a coming in : entrance, influx

fluctuations in the nutrient income of a body of water

Synonyms of income

• 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

More Americans, particularly those from higher-income households shop at Walmart for the convenience of delivery. —Juveria Tabassum, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026

New Hampshire and Tennessee, which taxed income from interest and dividends but not wages, each ended those taxes within the past five years. —David A. Lieb, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026

The casino will pay hefty share of the proceeds to New York, with a 63% state tax on slots revenue and 30% on table game income. —Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026

The federal policy won’t apply to all Medicaid beneficiaries, just those who are enrolled under an expansion that most states chose to make to allow more low-income people to get healthcare coverage. —Geoff Mulvihill, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing income

• adjusted gross 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