✨📕 The NEWThe NEW Collegiate Dictionary, 12th Edition Over 5,000 words added — Buy Now! Collegiate DictionaryBuy Now!

revenue

noun

rev·​e·​nue ˈre-və-ˌnü How to pronounce revenue (audio)
-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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Jays will likely see a big revenue bump this winter and next year off the afterglow of a tremendous 2025 season. Keith Law, New York Times, 27 Nov. 2025 As of today, productions representing approximately 76% of the revenue associated with Thunderbird’s current slate are approved and underway. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 Nov. 2025 This should generate greater revenue, as Robinhood will be able to directly collect transaction fees. Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 26 Nov. 2025 The plan increases support for long-distance routes while reducing federal assistance for the critical Northeast Corridor, a shift officials say reflects stronger revenue on that corridor after record ticket sales. Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for revenue

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of revenue was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Revenue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/revenue. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

revenue

noun
rev·​e·​nue ˈrev-ə-ˌn(y)ü How to pronounce revenue (audio)
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 How to pronounce revenue (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on revenue

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!