Word of the day · 22 April 2026
revenue
/ˈrɛvənjuː/
noun
Money a business or government takes in from sales, taxes or other sources before subtracting most costs.
In a sentence
- Ticket sales drove most of the theater’s revenue.
- Tax revenue rose after the new rate took effect.
- High revenue does not guarantee a healthy profit.
In an image
Origin
From Old French revenue (return, yield), from revenir (to return), originally what “comes back” from land or activity.
History
Accountants distinguish revenue from profit: revenue is the top line, profit remains after costs. Governments speak of tax revenue. Startup talk obsesses over revenue growth even before earnings. People search the word when a chart or earnings call assumes they already know it.
Nearby words
income · receipts · turnover
Incoming money, counted before you spend it away.