income
HighNeutral to Formal (more common in official, financial, and legal contexts than in casual chat).
Definition
Meaning
Money received, especially on a regular basis, for work or from investments.
The inflow of economic resources (money, goods, services) to a person, household, business, or nation over a specific period. Can also refer figuratively to non-monetary gains (e.g., 'an income of happiness').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Income" is typically a mass noun referring to a collective sum. It can be countable when referring to specific types or sources (e.g., 'incomes from various properties'). The focus is on the *receipt* of money, not its source or nature.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling conventions apply in compounds (e.g., UK: 'income-related', US: 'income-related').
Connotations
Equally neutral in both varieties. The primary connotation is financial and legal.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
income from (source)income of (amount)income per (period/person)on an income ofVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on a fixed income”
- “live within one's income”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a company's revenue from sales and services.
Academic
Used in economics, sociology, and law to discuss distribution, inequality, and policy.
Everyday
Common in discussions about personal finance, jobs, and budgeting.
Technical
In tax law and accounting, has precise definitions (e.g., taxable income, adjusted gross income).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (No standard verb form. Rare, non-standard usage might be 'to income', but it is not accepted.)
American English
- (No standard verb form. The concept is expressed with 'earn' or 'generate income'.)
adverb
British English
- (No adverbial form derived from 'income'.)
American English
- (No adverbial form derived from 'income'.)
adjective
British English
- She comes from an income-poor background.
- The form is for income-related benefits.
American English
- They are part of the high-income bracket.
- We need an income statement for the loan.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- His income is not very high.
- What is your monthly income?
- The job offered a good income and benefits.
- Her main income comes from her design work.
- After taxes, his net income was significantly lower than expected.
- Investments provide him with a passive income.
- The policy aims to redistribute income more equitably across society.
- Fluctuations in foreign exchange rates can severely impact the company's overseas income.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: Money coming IN.
Conceptual Metaphor
INCOME IS A FLUID (e.g., 'stream of income', 'income flows', 'trickle-down income').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as "доходный"; "income" is a noun, not an adjective.
- "Income" is broader than "зарплата" (salary/wage); it includes all money received.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'incomes' incorrectly as a plural in general contexts (e.g., 'He has two incomes' is fine; 'My incomes is low' is wrong).
- Confusing 'income' with 'salary' (salary is a type of income from employment).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate definition of 'gross income'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
For individuals, 'income' is common. For companies, 'revenue' refers to total sales, while 'income' (or 'net income') is revenue minus expenses and taxes.
Yes, when referring to separate sums from different sources or for different entities (e.g., 'The incomes of the two households were compared'). It is less common than the singular form.
No. A salary is a fixed regular payment from an employer. 'Income' is broader and includes salary, wages, bonuses, investment returns, rental payments, etc.
It is the amount of money left after taxes and essential living costs (like rent and food) have been deducted, which is available for spending, saving, or investment.