guadagno

Guadagno is an Italian noun that refers to money earned as a result of work, business activity, or investments. It denotes the positive financial result obtained from producing goods or services or from financial operations, and can indicate either the amount earned in a period or the general notion of financial gain.

In economics and business, guadagno is used in several specific expressions. Guadagno lordo (gross gain) and guadagno netto (net gain) distinguish pre- and post-cost totals. Other common phrases include guadagno d'impresa (business profit) and guadagno di capitale (capital gains). In personal finance, guadagno describes earnings from employment, contracts, or financial assets, and is often distinguished from reddito (income) or salario (salary).

In accounting and taxation, guadagno refers to the positive result after deducting costs or losses, but the exact interpretation depends on context and the chosen measurement. The term is frequently used alongside related concepts such as utile (profit), reddito, and margine di guadagno (gross margin).

Etymology: the noun derives from the verb guadagnare, meaning to earn or to gain. The form guadagno has appeared in Italian for many centuries and is closely tied to the lexical family around earning and profit.

See also: reddito, utile, profitto, capitale.