Income Definition, Examples & Usage Guide

Meaning 1：money earned (income)

income 🔊

/ˈɪnkʌm/

Money that you earn from your job, investments, or business, usually on a regular basis.

money earned 🔊

➕

/ˈmʌni ɜːrnd/

Money received regularly from work, investments, or business activities, typically measured over a period.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Beginner

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'in-' (in) + 'venire' (to come), meaning 'that which comes in'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'in' + 'come' = money coming into your pocket.

📖 Example

Her income from her part-time job helps pay for her university tuition. 🔊 Her income from her part-time job helps pay for her university tuition.

🔗 Collocations

annual income – total income received in one calendar year

income tax – a tax imposed on individuals or entities based on their earnings

gross income – total earnings before deductions such as taxes and expenses

🔄 Synonyms

earnings (n) – money obtained from work or investment

salary (n) – a fixed regular payment, typically paid monthly by an employer

revenue (n) – income generated from business activities or operations

🚫 Antonyms

expense (n) – cost incurred; money spent

loss (n) – money that is lost or spent exceeding earnings

expenditure (n) – money spent on goods, services, or obligations

🌱 Derivatives

incoming (adj) – coming in or arriving, often referring to money or calls

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Old French 'encome' (entrance), used in Middle English for 'money received'. Its business sense became dominant in the 16th century.