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

Before the Saver’s Match takes effect, the saver’s credit remains available through the 2026 tax year for lower- and moderate-income retirement savers. — Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026

Many of the people whom the state has collected money from in recent years are like Mullen — lower-income individuals who stand to inherit modest amounts of money. — Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026

The nine news homes to be built are set to be high-efficiency, net-zero energy single-family homes that will be sold to households earning at or below 80% of the area median income. — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 28 Sep. 2026

Portfolio gains for wealthier investors gave permission to the top 40% of earners to keep spending, despite all the cost-of-living concerns Americans in the lower-income thresholds have faced. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 28 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