income
Americannoun
-
revenue received for goods or services, or from other sources, as rents or investments.
For years, her only source of income was the small number of stocks her father left her.
-
the money, or amount of money, received from one’s employment.
a household with three incomes;
a healthcare worker with an income that hasn’t increased in five years.
- Antonyms:
- expenditure, outgo
-
something that comes in as an addition or increase, especially by chance.
-
Archaic. a coming in.
noun
-
the amount of monetary or other returns, either earned or unearned, accruing over a given period of time
-
receipts; revenue
-
rare an inflow or influx
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of income
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English: literally, “that which has come in,” noun use of incomen (past participle of incomen “to come in”), Old English incuman; see in, come
Explanation
What could be simpler than to remember that income basically refers to money that "comes in," or is earned. Your income is the money you make in a given time period, for example weekly, monthly, or annually. Your income might come from many sources — salary, investments, interest or annuities. Today income is used as a noun, but the Old English word incuman was first a verb that meant "to come in," and referred to the money earned through one's labor or business dealings. The first income tax was attempted in Britain in 1404, but was so unpopular it was ended. In the United States, the Federal Income Tax became law in 1913, and, unfortunately, is still in effect.
Vocabulary lists containing income
Personal Finance and Financial Literacy - Introductory
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Personal Finance and Financial Literacy - High School
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"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 2
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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.
But rising costs and Bristol's high living expenses made it difficult to survive on one income.
From BBC • May 25, 2026
Hollie, from Bristol, became a single mother and needed flexible work to support her son Max as she survives on a single income.
From BBC • May 25, 2026
"The aggression against Al-Qard al-Hassan is an aggression against hundreds of thousands of poor people and those with limited income," Qassem said.
From Barron's • May 24, 2026
He also had a few words of advice for individuals who are chasing passive income or eager to become entrepreneurs themselves.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026
I know we went to church to borrow emergency money once, and someone there showed Papa how to do his income tax.
From "March Forward, Girl" by Melba Pattillo Beals
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.
