low income — little money earned
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
Earning a small amount of money, especially compared to the average or what is needed for a comfortable life.
Say it like a native
Textbook They subsist on a diminished level of earnings.
Native They're on a low income.
'On a low income' is natural; 'subsist on diminished earnings' is jargon.
Pattern: low income (noun phrase); have a low income; people with low incomes
In use
- Many families in the area have a low income and struggle to pay their bills.money
- In my opinion, people with low incomes should receive more support from the government, especially when it comes to healthcare and education.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ They are a low income family.
✓ They are a low-income family.
Hyphenate before a noun — 'a low-income family'.
Common collocations
low income— on a, households, families, earners
Don't confuse it
Contrast with 'high income', which means earning a lot of money.