capital gain

American  

noun

1. profit from the sale of assets, as bonds or real estate.

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capital gain British  

noun

1. the amount by which the selling price of a financial asset exceeds its cost

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capital gain Cultural  

1. Personal income earned by the sale of assets, such as stocks or real property. The gain is the difference between the price paid for the asset and the selling price. Most conservatives want capital gains taxed at a lower rate than ordinary income in order to stimulate investment, whereas most liberals oppose a lower rate for capital gains as a subsidy for the wealthy.

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Etymology

Origin of capital gain

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Although California doesn’t currently tax wealth directly, it heavily taxes the income generated by wealth—particularly capital gains.

From The Wall Street Journal

He hated speculation and thought that the rapid-fire trading of ETFs prevented people from focusing on investing in businesses and reaping the benefits of their cash flows in the form of dividends and capital gains.

From Barron's

A buoyant stock market and strong capital gains have turbocharged tax revenue in most states, especially those with progressive tax systems.

From The Wall Street Journal

Before long his legal experience helping tax clients register investment income as capital gains, rather than interest, enabled him to aid the firm’s Saudi clients.

From The Wall Street Journal

The solution of indexing capital gains to inflation would correct this distortion by adjusting the original purchase price for inflation before calculating taxable gains, ensuring that only genuine appreciation beyond inflation is subject to taxation.

From Los Angeles Times