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 of revenue

• 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

The delay again has created a potential cash crunch for districts during the wait for their cut — often a main revenue source for local governments — and added to the pile of complaints about the county’s decade-long property tax system upgrade. — A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026

The lost revenue is a concern for Shinya Sato, a grower in Japan’s central Yamanashi prefecture who depends on Shine Muscats and other grape varieties for his livelihood. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026

To that, with massive job, production and tax revenue losses on the table, Paramount’s Plan B for the last eight weeks has been to pressure Bonta from all sides to make a deal ASAP. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2026

In the past, the rebels have demanded the payment of public-sector wages in their areas using Yemen’s collective oil revenues, and that Saudi Arabia compensate the rebels for the war. — Kareem Fahim, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026

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