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

Instead of looking only at raw home prices, an investor can track the rent-to-income ratio and the pending-active listing ratio. — Justin Donald, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

In fact, Zwick says, since the 1980s, pass-through businesses have accounted for more than half of the rise in the top one percent's share of income. — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 14 Sep. 2026

This is also a significant underestimate of total government spending for low-income Americans. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2026

But incomes have not kept pace with home prices in the decades since their parents bought their childhood home, in 1997. — Kelly Marie Coyne, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 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
• gross income
• imputed 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
• pisum
• succumb
• therefrom
• wherefrom
• abomasum
• bum
• chum
• come

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