earmark
earmark — verb
1. to choose that some money, time, or other resource is set aside for a particular
to choose that some money, time, or other resource is set aside for a particular use, someone's benefit, or a planned goal
The city council voted to earmark three million dollars for public library renovations.
pattern: earmark + amount + for + purpose
Devika's research grant was earmarked for after-school science programmes in low-income areas.
passive: be earmarked for [purpose]
The university has earmarked a portion of its endowment for new student housing.
Owen decided to earmark part of his monthly salary for a travel fund.
Funds earmarked for coastal erosion projects were cut by the new administration.
- allocate
more neutral; earmark adds a sense of pre-planned reservation
- designate
more formal; often used for official appointments or naming
- reserve
emphasises keeping something aside, not necessarily for a pre-determined purpose
- appropriate
very formal; used almost exclusively in government or legal contexts to mean setting aside funds through an official act
- divert
to redirect earmarked resources away from their intended purpose
文法句型
earmark + noun + for + purpose
be earmarked + for + noun/gerund
用法筆記
Often used in the passive voice (be earmarked for). The preposition 'for' introduces the purpose. The subject is typically an institution, government, or organisation, though individuals can also earmark personal resources such as time or income.
常見錯誤
earmark — noun
1. a visible cut, notch, or similar marking placed in a farm animal's ear to show w
a visible cut, notch, or similar marking placed in a farm animal's ear to show who owns it
The farmer checked the earmark on each lamb before the autumn sale.
A clean cut in the right ear served as the ranch's official earmark for generations.
historical use: ownership identifier on livestock
The earmark on the goat matched the symbol registered with the county livestock office.
The ranch's oldest cattle still carried the original earmark from the 1950s.
- ear tag
a modern physical tag attached to the ear, more common than a cut mark today
用法筆記
This is the original literal meaning of the word. In modern farming, ear tags or microchips have largely replaced traditional cut marks, but the term is still used for any form of legal identification on a farm animal's ear.
常見錯誤
2. a quality or feature that clearly shows what or who someone or something is, ser
a quality or feature that clearly shows what or who someone or something is, serving as a noticeable sign of their character or origin
Élise's habit of double-checking every invoice was an earmark of her fifteen years in accounting.
pattern: an earmark of [experience / profession]
The writer's vivid descriptions of city life are an earmark of her early novels.
His insistence on punctuality at every meeting was an earmark of his military training.
Clean and simple design has long been an earmark of Scandinavian furniture.
- hallmark
very similar; hallmark suggests a stamp of quality or authenticity
- trademark
emphasises a distinctive, almost personal, feature
- characteristic
more neutral and common; less formal than earmark
文法句型
an earmark of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Almost always used in the pattern 'an earmark of + noun phrase'. This sense is somewhat literary or formal in tone. It is more static than 'characteristic' — it describes a defining feature rather than a typical behaviour.
常見錯誤
3. a sum of money that a US Congress member adds to a piece of legislation, intende
a sum of money that a US Congress member adds to a piece of legislation, intended to fund a particular local project such as a bridge, research lab, or community facility
Senator Brandon added an earmark for a new research lab at the state university.
pattern: add an earmark for [specific project]
Lawmakers who defend earmarks say they help local communities get needed funding.
This year's budget contains several earmarks for road improvements across the state.
Senator Defne faced criticism after adding an earmark for a highway project that the state transportation board had not requested.
- pork-barrel spending
carries a negative connotation of wasteful or politically motivated spending
- specific-purpose grant
more neutral; used more broadly outside the US
文法句型
add / include / contain an earmark
earmark for a project
用法筆記
This sense is specific to US federal legislation. In Taiwan or other political systems, the equivalent concept may be referred to differently (e.g., 'pork-barrel spending' in general US usage, or 'specific-purpose grants' in other countries).