revenue

noun

rev·​e·​nue ˈre-və-ˌnü 

-ˌnyü

often attributive

1

: the total income produced by a given source

a property expected to yield a large annual revenue

2

: the gross income returned by an investment

3

: the yield of sources of income (such as taxes) that a political unit (such as a nation or state) collects and receives into the treasury for public use

4

: a government department concerned with the collection of the national revenue

Synonyms

• earnings
• gain(s)
• income
• incoming(s)
• proceeds
• profit
• return
• yield

Examples of revenue in a Sentence

The factory lost revenue because of the strike by the workers.

The firm is looking for another source of revenue.

Government officials have reported a decrease in revenue.

state and federal tax revenues

Recent Examples on the Web

The company is now a conglomerate that spans 11 industries, including dentistry, mental health and insurance, and generates over $800 million in revenue. —Monica Hunter-Hart, Forbes, 1 Feb. 2025

Last year Rhode revealed to WWD that the company was on track to rake in more than $100 million of revenue since its 2022 launch. —Marissa Muller, WWD, 1 Feb. 2025

But Trump has long promoted tariffs as a way to negotiate better deals with U.S. trading partners, protect domestic industries from foreign competition and gain revenue. —Tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 1 Feb. 2025

Still, Trump has used and promised to employ tariffs for three primary purposes: to raise revenue, to bring trade into balance and to bring rival countries to the negotiating table. —David Goldman, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, return, revenue, from Anglo-French, from revenir to return, from Latin revenire, from re- + venire to come — more at come

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing revenue

• revenue bond
• revenue cutter
• revenue stamp
• revenue tariff

Kids Definition

revenue

noun

rev·​e·​nue ˈrev-ə-ˌn(y)ü 

1

: the income produced by a given source

2

: the income that a government collects for public use

Legal Definition

revenue

noun

rev·​e·​nue ˈre-və-ˌnü, -ˌnyü 

often attributive

1

: the total income produced by a given source

a property expected to yield a large annual revenue

2

: the gross income returned by an investment

3

: the yield of sources of income (as taxes) that a political unit (as a nation or state) collects and receives into the treasury for public use

4

: a government department concerned with the collection of national revenue