earmark

1 of 2

noun

ear·​mark ˈir-ˌmärk 

1

: a mark of identification on the ear of an animal

2

: a distinguishing mark

all the earmarks of poverty

3

: a provision in Congressional legislation that allocates a specified amount of money for a specific project, program, or organization

earmark

2 of 2

verb

earmarked; earmarking; earmarks

transitive verb

1

a

: to mark (livestock) with an earmark

b

: to mark in a distinguishing manner

2

: to designate (something, such as funds) for a specific use or owner

money earmarked for education

Synonyms

Verb

• allocate
• consecrate
• dedicate
• devote
• give up (to)
• reserve
• save
• set by

Examples of earmark in a Sentence

Verb

The project uses funds that had been earmarked for education.

the earnings from my second job have been earmarked for a down payment on a car

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The earmark of empire is the subservience of liberty to ultra-inflated national security fears to protect us from ghosts. —Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 19 Dec. 2024

In fact, Left on Tenth has all the earmarks of those tales, with perhaps just a very, very light touch of Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2024

Verb

Another $800 billion is earmarked for the Department of Defense, which recently failed its seventh consecutive audit, presenting opportunities for waste reduction. —Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2024

HOT money is earmarked for activities that drive tourism. —Mars Salazar, Austin American-Statesman, 13 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

earmark

1 of 2 noun

ear·​mark ˈi(ə)r-ˌmärk 

1

: a mark of identification on the ear of an animal

2

: a mark or quality by which something can be identified

the earmarks of success

earmark

2 of 2 verb

1

: to mark with or as if with an earmark

2

: to set aside for a special purpose

money earmarked for a vacation