net income

American  

noun

1. the excess of revenues and gains of a business over expenses and losses during a given period of time.

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Etymology

Origin of net income

First recorded in 1760–70

Compare meaning

How does net-income compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• gross income vs. net income

Example Sentences

The company swung to a net loss of $289 million from net income of $240 million a year ago.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

While the oil giants seethed, Venture Global said in initial-public-offering filings that it generated almost $7 billion in net income in 2022 and 2023 combined.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

Fiscal 2026 marked the company’s first year with a positive net income as a public company, generating $54.4 million in free cash flow, a sizable figure compared with its current $480 million market capitalization.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

In February, Sphere Entertainment reported a net income of $57.6m for the 2025 calendar year.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

His company boosted net income by 14 percent in 2008, and he fully expects the growth to continue.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander