noun

earnings

/ˈɜːrnɪŋz/ · say it: ER·ningz

a company's profits over a period

In From the Business Pages

In more detail

1. (noun) money that a person or company receives as income, especially from working or running a business

2. (noun) profit that a company makes after paying its costs

Examples

1. Her annual earnings from her job are about $60,000.
2. The company's earnings increased by 20% this year.

How to use earnings

Earnings refers to money received as compensation for work or as business profit, commonly used in financial and employment contexts. It is more formal than 'money' or 'pay' and is the standard term in corporate and economic reports. The meaning can shift slightly depending on context—personal earnings focus on income, while company earnings emphasize profit after costs.

Common phrases

annual earnings
reported earnings
earnings per share
boost earnings
earnings potential

Synonyms

income · revenue · profit · wages · remuneration

Opposites

losses · expenses

Word family

earn (verb) · earner (noun) · earning (adjective)

A common mistake

Learners often confuse earnings with revenue; earnings is profit after expenses, while revenue is total income before costs are deducted.

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