in ‧ come S2 W1 /ˈɪŋkʌm, ˈɪn-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
the money that you earn from your work or that you receive from ↑ investment s , the government etc ⇨ salary
on an income
People on higher incomes should pay more tax.
income from
income from savings and pensions
low-income families
⇨ ↑ private income
, unearned income at UNEARNED
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have an income ( also receive an income formal )
We have an income of over $100,000 a year.
▪ provide an income
The properties he rented out provided him with an income.
▪ generate an income (=provide one)
He decided to invest the money to generate an income for the future.
▪ increase your income
She took on extra work to increase her income.
▪ supplement/add to your income (=increase your income, for example by doing an extra job)
Ted supplemented his income by doing part-time work in the evenings.
▪ sb’s income rises/increases/goes up
They saw their income rise considerably over the next few years.
▪ sb’s income falls/goes down
Average income fell by one third during this period.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + income
▪ a high/large income
He has a relatively high income.
▪ a low/small income
Rent takes a large chunk of their small income.
▪ sb’s annual income
Brian’s annual income is around £43,000.
▪ the average income
The report compares average incomes across different European countries.
▪ the national income (=the income of a country)
A large proportion of the national income comes from food exports.
▪ family/household income
She works in a shop to supplement the family income.
▪ disposable income (=your income after tax and necessary bills have been paid)
People spend a high proportion of their disposable income running a car.
▪ gross income (=income before you have paid tax)
The family’s gross income has increased by 5% this year.
▪ net income (=income after you have paid tax)
He was left with a net income of just £80 per week.
▪ taxable income (=the part of your income on which you pay tax)
Money received in rent is included as part of your taxable income.
▪ a joint income (=that two or more people have)
Between them they have a joint income of less than £20,000.
▪ somebody's personal income
Average personal incomes rose by about 5% last year.
▪ investment income (=income from investments)
You will be taxed on your investment income.
■ income + NOUN
▪ an income level/group
The tax rate rises with the individual’s income level.
▪ an income bracket (=income level)
In general, people in higher income brackets live longer.
▪ income tax (=tax that you pay on your income)
The standard rate of income tax is to be cut by 0.5%.
▪ incomes policy British English (=government controls on wages)
Government control of the economy must include an effective incomes policy.
■ phrases
▪ a source of income
His pension was his only source of income.
▪ loss of income
You can buy insurance to protect you against loss of income if you are ill.