any identifying or distinguishing mark or characteristic: The mayor's statement had all the earmarks of dirty politics. a mark of identification made on the ear of an animal to show ownership.

How do you use earmarks?

Similarly, when government officials earmark a resource, they're indicating what the resource will be used for. Earmarking is usually about money. $10,000 could be earmarked for cancer research. A grant could be earmarked for a children's hospital.

What is the meaning of earmarks?

: to have qualities or characteristics that make something likely The business plan had (all) the earmarks of success.