earmark
Americannoun
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any identifying or distinguishing mark or characteristic.
The mayor's statement had all the earmarks of dirty politics.
-
a mark of identification made on the ear of an animal to show ownership.
-
a provision in a piece of Congressional legislation that directs specified federal funds to specific projects, programs, organizations, or individuals.
Lawmakers requested almost 40,000 earmarks worth more than $100 billion directed to their home districts and states.
verb (used with object)
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earmarks,
present (3rd person singular)
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earmarked,
past participle, past
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earmarking
present participle
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to set aside for a specific purpose, use, recipient, etc..
to earmark goods for export.
-
to mark with an earmark.
verb
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to set aside or mark out for a specific purpose
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to make an identification mark on the ear of (a domestic animal)
noun
-
a mark of identification on the ear of a domestic animal
-
any distinguishing mark or characteristic
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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earmarksimple
-
earmarkssimple
-
have earmarkedperfect
-
has earmarkedperfect
-
am earmarkingprogressive
-
are earmarkingprogressive
-
is earmarkingprogressive
-
have been earmarkingperfect progressive
-
has been earmarkingperfect progressive
Past
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earmarkedsimple
-
had earmarkedperfect
-
was earmarkingprogressive
-
were earmarkingprogressive
-
had been earmarkingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of earmark
Explanation
To earmark something is to set it aside for a specific purpose. If you’re saving money to spend it in a particular way — whether it’s for college or a fancy new pair of shoes — you have earmarked that money. Originally, an earmark was a mark on the ear of an animal — such as a sheep — that indicated ownership. Similarly, when government officials earmark a resource, they're indicating what the resource will be used for. Earmarking is usually about money. $10,000 could be earmarked for cancer research. A grant could be earmarked for a children's hospital. Earmarking is a way of stating how something will be used.
Vocabulary lists containing earmark
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
These members could no longer earmark money for specific military contractors.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
The mayor urged the culture ministry to earmark substantial funding to better protect France's museums.
From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026
This source was advising a Maine foundation on how to request an earmark.
From Slate ● Jun. 16, 2026
For example, producers like Shell and BP keep stocks at terminals and refineries around the UK and can earmark stocks held elsewhere as counting towards their reserves.
From BBC ● Mar. 11, 2026
Anderson used his power to earmark municipal funds to clean up the Black Belt’s crumbling sewers and streets.
From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield
Despite his erratic behavior, former employees agree Kao hit upon an effective way to replace the lost earmarks.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
As posted on social media, the deal has the tonal earmarks of an official document.
From Slate ● Aug. 3, 2026
Could it become tricky to find votes in the Senedd for a budget if Plaid earmarks cash for that exercise?
From BBC ● May 9, 2026
Millions of dollars Tennessee GOP Rep. Chuck Fleischmann scored in earmarks in this year’s appropriations bills—the largest total in the House.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 18, 2026
She might have to take them on a train, and she couldn’t ride on a train with her clothing torn, it was one of the earmarks of the fugitive.
From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry
The money had been earmarked for programs focused on immigrants, refugees, civil rights, climate change and children.
From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2026
What they got this year is $6 million, with $2.5 million earmarked for compensation, according to Flick.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
BBC News has learned that the number of cots in the units earmarked for intensive care has not yet increased as planned.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
It called for $37 million, $2.4 million of which was earmarked for repair and restoration.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
Although originally earmarked for shipyard workers and defense employees like Dorothy, the neighborhood was starting to attract Negroes from all income classes.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
When he’s not earmarking time in his perfect Sunday for reading, Oswalt also delights in frequenting Valley small businesses that fully embrace the indie and oddball.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
At the U.N., the Trump administration has begun to channel aid money through a single department established to manage emergencies, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, earmarking $3.8 billion so far.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 30, 2026
The company, according to Reuters, is earmarking as much as 30% of shares for retail investors and scheduling a meeting with 1,500 of them at an event in June, once its IPO roadshow kicks off.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 8, 2026
In the Budget it said it would raise the age limit to cover under-25s, earmarking £725m for the scheme over the next three years.
From BBC ● Dec. 8, 2025
When the lambs are about six weeks old the entire flock is driven in for cutting, tailing, and earmarking.
From Five Years in New Zealand 1859 to 1864 by Robert B. Booth
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
