1
: a mark of identification on the ear of an animal
2
: a distinguishing mark
all the earmarks of poverty
3
: a provision in Congressional legislation that allocates a specified amount of money for a specific project, program, or organization
earmarked; earmarking; earmarks
1
a
: to mark (livestock) with an earmark
b
: to mark in a distinguishing manner
2
: to designate (something, such as funds) for a specific use or owner
money earmarked for education
Examples of earmark in a Sentence
Verb
The project uses funds that had been earmarked for education.
the earnings from my second job have been earmarked for a down payment on a car
Recent Examples on the Web
Andrew Brown, Hartford Courant, 3 Apr. 2026
More than 110 community colleges across the nation will receive about $170 million through earmarks.
—Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Chris McKenna, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Part of that money was earmarked for York.
—Craig Fehrman, Space.com, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for earmark
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Noun
Sampson sits on the legislature’s Government Oversight Committee, which has advanced legislation this year that would set new rules for state legislative earmarks.
—Andrew Brown, Hartford Courant, 3 Apr. 2026
More than 110 community colleges across the nation will receive about $170 million through earmarks.
—Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
Of course, his ability as a footballer and his football intelligence earmark him for a career in coaching, too.
—Chris McKenna, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Part of that money was earmarked for York.
—Craig Fehrman, Space.com, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for earmark
Cite this Entry
“Earmark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earmark. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
earmark
1 of 2 noun
ear·mark
ˈi(ə)r-ˌmärk 
1
: a mark of identification on the ear of an animal
2
: a mark or quality by which something can be identified
the earmarks of success
earmark
2 of 2 verb1
: to mark with or as if with an earmark
2
: to set aside for a special purpose
money earmarked for a vacation
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