ENGLISH
REFERENCE

income

n. C / U
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈɪnˌkəm// UK //ˈɪnkʌm// in·come Academic Archaic Dialect General-service

n. the money you receive regularly from your job, investments, or business. It is the total amount you earn before you pay for your expenses.

n. money received, especially on a regular basis, for work or through investments. Often contrasted with wealth, which refers to accumulated assets rather than the flow of revenue.


SIMPLE

Her monthly income covers her rent and bills.

CONTEXTUAL

The bank requires proof of a steady income before they will approve a mortgage for a new home.

COMPLEX

Economists often distinguish between gross income and disposable income to better understand the actual purchasing power of different household demographics within the national economy.

Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English income, perhaps continuing (in altered form) Old English incyme (“an in-coming, entrance”), equivalent to in- + come. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Íenkúumen (“income”), West Frisian ynkommen (“income”), Dutch inkomen, inkomst (“income, earnings, gainings”), German Low German Inkumst (“income”), German Einkommen, Einkunft (“income, earnings, competence”), Danish indkomst (“income”), Swedish inkomst (“income”), Icelandic innkváma (“income”).

Usage

Usually uncountable when referring to the general concept of money earned; countable when discussing different sources or types of earnings.

Pitfall

He has a high salary income.He has a high income.Income is the broad category; salary is a specific type of income. Using both together is redundant.

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