Slangora

earmark

(chiefly, agriculture) A mark made or tag attached to the ear of an animal (chiefly a livestock animal), generally to identify or indicate something about the animal, such as ownership, health or gest

ˈɪəmɑːkCurrent89 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🇬🇧 British & Irish slang
2 definitions
Community

Definitions

UK
#1·Apr 27, 2026UK

(chiefly, agriculture) A mark made or tag attached to the ear of an animal (chiefly a livestock animal), generally to identify or indicate something about the animal, such as ownership, health or gestation status, etc.

Origin: [[File:VacheBelge&mouches.jpg|thumb|A cow in Belgium with an earmark () in the form of a notch and a tag.]] The is derived from . The is derived from the noun. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

"earmark" means: A mark made or tag attached to the ear of an animal (chiefly a livestock animal), generally to identify or indicate something about the anim.... This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"earmark" means: A mark made or tag attached to the ear of an animal (chiefly a livestock animal), generally to identify or indicate something about the anim.... Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

Heard in the wild
  • “I mean it was always $400m and paid for by donors, but now it got a $1b earmark from taxes, but there is no such thing as truth any more”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
Was this helpful?

Comments

UK
#2·Apr 27, 2026UK

(chiefly, agriculture) To make a mark or attach a tag to the ear of (an animal, chiefly a livestock animal), generally to identify or indicate something about the animal, such as ownership.

Was this helpful?

Comments

For specific readers

"earmark" means: A mark made or tag attached to the ear of an animal (chiefly a livestock animal), generally to identify or indicate something about the anim.... This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

Used in

UK

Have a better definition?

Add your own interpretation of "earmark".

Add definition

🇬🇧About British & Irish slang slang

UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.

See all British & Irish slang slang on Slangora.

Tags

Other words near "earmark" (E)

Browse all slang words starting with E.

Related terms

People also read

Semantically related