income

American  

[in-kuhm] / ˈɪn kʌm /

noun

1. 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.

2. 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.

   Synonyms:

   earnings, wages, salary, return, gains, annuity, interest

   Antonyms:

   expenditure, outgo

3. something that comes in as an addition or increase, especially by chance.

4. Archaic. a coming in.

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income British  

/ ˈɪnkəm, ˈɪnkʌm /

noun

1. the amount of monetary or other returns, either earned or unearned, accruing over a given period of time

2. receipts; revenue

3. rare an inflow or influx

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income Cultural  

1. The amount of money received during a period of time in exchange for labor or services, from the sale of goods or property, or as a profit from financial investments.

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Other Word Forms

• incomeless adjective

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; 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.

Example Sentences

Using 2024 data, working women age 25 to 34 without a bachelor’s degree earn a weighted mean income of $41,063, according to the Census Bureau.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

But more recently, AI-chip customers have come to dominate its income.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

The company reported net income of $5.3 billion, up more than 80% compared to the $2.9 billion it recorded during the same period last year.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

He also announced ambitions to simplify the income tax system, roll out a £2 cap for single bus fares and deliver extra funded childcare.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

We’re feeding ten people on two ration cards, my income, and Hirsch’s contributions, and it’s not quite enough.

From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron

Related Words

• cash
• compensation
• earnings
• interest
• livelihood
• pay
• proceeds
• profit
• revenue
• royalty
• salary
• wage