revenue

noun

rev·​e·​nue ˈre-və-ˌnü 

-ˌnyü

often attributive

1

: the total income produced by a given source

a property expected to yield a large annual revenue

2

: the gross income returned by an investment

3

: the yield of sources of income (such as taxes) that a political unit (such as a nation or state) collects and receives into the treasury for public use

4

: a government department concerned with the collection of the national revenue

Synonyms

• income
• profit
• proceeds
• earnings
• return
• yield
• incoming(s)

Examples of revenue in a Sentence

The factory lost revenue because of the strike by the workers.

The firm is looking for another source of revenue.

Government officials have reported a decrease in revenue.

state and federal tax revenues

Recent Examples on the Web

Yet much of Timor-Leste’s development can be credited to its reliance on oil and gas revenue, which at times made up over 90% of the country’s GDP. —Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025

China’s robotics industry is actively diversifying its applications to generate new revenue. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2025

Some professionals working in certain competitive fields are eligible for additional compensation, which are primarily funded through specific revenue streams that are not part of the state’s general funds that support the university, Harper said. —William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2025

Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, return, revenue, from Anglo-French, from revenir to return, from Latin revenire, from re- + venire to come — more at come

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing revenue

• revenue bond
• revenue cutter
• revenue stamp
• revenue tariff

Rhymes for revenue

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou

Kids Definition

revenue

noun

rev·​e·​nue ˈrev-ə-ˌn(y)ü 

1

: the income produced by a given source

2

: the income that a government collects for public use

Legal Definition

revenue

noun

rev·​e·​nue ˈre-və-ˌnü, -ˌnyü 

often attributive

1

: the total income produced by a given source

a property expected to yield a large annual revenue

2

: the gross income returned by an investment

3

: the yield of sources of income (as taxes) that a political unit (as a nation or state) collects and receives into the treasury for public use

4

: a government department concerned with the collection of national revenue