<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>any identifying or distinguishing mark or characteristic: The mayor's statement had all the earmarks of dirty politics.</li><li>a mark of identification made on the ear of an animal to show ownership.</li><li>a provision in a piece of Congressional legislation that directs specified federal funds to specific projects, programs, organizations, or individuals: Compare pork barrel.</li><li>the unjustified assumption that one has a right to certain advantages, preferential treatment, etc.: "Their sense of entitlement—I don't want to call it arrogance—makes dealing with some people difficult," said the senator.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li>to set aside for a specific purpose, use, recipient, etc.: to earmark goods for export.</li><li>to mark with an earmark.</li></ul>