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

She’s employed at West Virginia’s federally funded Head Start program for low-income children and her husband is a postal worker. —ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026

As of late March, she hadn't been reapproved for the year for the state-federal program, which provides health insurance for people with low incomes and disabilities. —Sam Whitehead, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026

In higher-cost states, savings from achieving the magic 760 number can exceed 40% of annual household income, the study found. —Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026

Higher price points and affordability, with a typical 3-bedroom home valued at $450,354 compared to a median income of $91,387, also affected the ranking, the study found. —Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 8 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