Revenue: meaning, definitions and examples

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revenue

 

[ ˈrɛvəˌnjuː ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

business finance

Revenue refers to the income generated from the sale of goods or services. It is the total amount of money that a company receives during a specific period of time.

Synonyms

earnings, income, sales.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
revenue

Used in a business or organizational context to refer to the total income generated from normal business operations, typically measured over a specific period such as a quarter or a year.

  • The company's revenue for the fiscal year exceeded expectations.
income

A broader term that can refer to money received by an individual or entity, typically through work, investments, business operations, or other sources.

  • He reported his annual income to the tax authorities.
earnings

Refers to the net income of a company after expenses have been subtracted from revenue. Commonly used in financial reports and performance summaries.

  • The company reported strong earnings this quarter.
sales

Specific to the amount of goods or services sold by a company. It can indicate the revenue generated from selling these goods or services but does not account for the costs and expenses.

  • The sales figures for this month are the highest we've ever seen.

Examples of usage

  • Last year, the company's revenue increased by 20%.
  • Advertising revenue is a major source of income for many online platforms.
Context #2 | Noun

government finance

In government finance, revenue is the total amount of money collected by the government through taxes, fees, and other sources.

Synonyms

government income, income, tax revenue.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
revenue

Generally used in business contexts to refer to the total income generated by a company or organization from its business activities, before any expenses are deducted.

  • The company's annual revenue has increased by 20% this year.
  • The new product line is expected to boost the firm's revenue significantly.
income

A general term used to describe money received, typically on a regular basis, for work or through investments.

  • Her monthly income helps support her family.
  • He derives a substantial part of his income from rental properties.
tax revenue

Refers specifically to the money collected by the government through taxes. This includes income tax, sales tax, property tax, etc.

  • Tax revenue has declined due to the economic downturn.
  • The city uses tax revenue to fund public services and infrastructure projects.
government income

Refers specifically to the money received by the government from various sources, including taxes, fees, and investments.

  • Government income is projected to rise due to new tax policies.
  • The main sources of government income include taxes and export duties.

Examples of usage

  • The government's revenue from income tax has decreased this year.
  • Budget deficits occur when government revenue falls short of expenditure.

Translations

Translations of the word "revenue" in other languages:

🇵🇹 receita

🇮🇳 राजस्व

🇩🇪 Einnahmen

🇮🇩 pendapatan

🇺🇦 дохід

🇵🇱 przychód

🇯🇵 収入 (shūnyū)

🇫🇷 revenu

🇪🇸 ingresos

🇹🇷 gelir

🇰🇷 수익 (suik)

🇸🇦 إيرادات (īrādāt)

🇨🇿 příjem

🇸🇰 príjem

🇨🇳 收入 (shōurù)

🇸🇮 prihodek

🇮🇸 tekjur

🇰🇿 кіріс

🇬🇪 შემოსავალი (shemosavali)

🇦🇿 gəlir

🇲🇽 ingresos

Etymology

The word 'revenue' originated from the Old French word 'revenue', derived from the verb 'revenir', meaning 'to return'. In the context of business and finance, revenue has been used since the 17th century to refer to income generated from sales. In government finance, revenue has been a key term used to describe the total amount of money collected by the government. The concept of revenue has evolved over time to encompass various sources of income for both businesses and governments.

Word Frequency Rank

This word ranks #1,694, placing it within important intermediate vocabulary. Learning it will significantly improve your ability to express yourself in English.