Expense Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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expense

[ɪkˈspɛns ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

financial

The cost required for something; the money spent on something.

Synonyms

cost, expenditure, outlay.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
expense	Generally used to refer to any amount of money spent, especially in the context of budgeting or financial planning. The company reduced its expenses to improve its profit margin. Travel expenses can quickly add up if not kept in check.
cost	Often refers to the price of something when you buy it, or the effort required to achieve something. It can convey a sense of direct impact or consequence. The cost of the new phone is quite high. Building a new bridge will cost the city millions of dollars. The cost of gaining that experience was losing many friends.
expenditure	Usually used to refer to an amount of money that a business or government spends, often in a formal or financial report. The government is reviewing its expenditure on public health services. A significant part of our budget is allocated to capital expenditures.
outlay	Typically denotes an initial cost or investment, particularly in business or large projects. The initial outlay for the equipment was substantial, but it reduced production costs in the long run. Starting a new business requires a significant financial outlay.

Examples of usage

The company had to cut expenses to stay afloat during the economic downturn.
She kept track of her expenses in a budgeting app.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

business

The amount of money that a company or person spends in order to buy or do something.

Synonyms

cost, expenditure, outlay.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
expense	General term for money spent to buy or do something. Commonly used in everyday conversations and business discussions. The trip turned out to be a significant expense She carefully recorded each expense in her ledger
expenditure	More formal term, often used in financial or governmental contexts. It implies planned or necessary spending over a period of time. The company needs to control its expenditure to become profitable The government increased expenditure on education last year
outlay	Refers to an initial amount of money spent for a specific purpose, often associated with investments, projects, or significant purchases. The building's renovation required a large initial outlay Investors are advised to consider the outlay versus the potential return
cost	Refers to the price of something, or the amount of money required to obtain it. Suitable for both specific and general contexts when discussing amounts required for purchases or activities. The cost of living in this city is quite high He was surprised by the cost of the repairs

Examples of usage

The marketing expense for the new product was substantial.
They decided to invest in new equipment to reduce future expenses.

^{Context #3 | Verb}

financial

To spend or pay out (money).

Synonyms

disburse, pay out, spend.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
expense	Use 'expense' to refer to the money needed to buy or do something, often used in a formal or financial context. The company's expenses for the month exceeded their budget. Travel expenses can accumulate quickly if they are not monitored.
spend	Use 'spend' to talk about using money or resources for a specific purpose, typically in everyday or personal contexts. She decided to spend her birthday money on a new bike. They spend a lot of time and resources on research and development.
pay out	Use 'pay out' when referring to the act of giving money, typically in large sums, often used in an informal context. The insurance company will pay out a substantial amount to cover the damages. They had to pay out a lot of money to settle the lawsuit.
disburse	Use 'disburse' when talking about paying out money from a fund or a large sum, especially in formal and official settings. The government plans to disburse funds to support the new housing program. The charity disbursed over a million dollars in aid to the victims.

Examples of usage

She carefully expensed all her business trips.
He expense all the bills related to the renovation.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'expense'

The word 'expense' originated from the Latin word 'expensa', which means 'outlay' or 'expense'. The concept of expenses has been integral to human societies for centuries, as individuals and organizations have always needed to allocate resources to acquire goods or services. In modern times, managing expenses is a crucial aspect of financial planning and budgeting, both on a personal and business level.

Word Frequency Rank

This word ranks #1,574, placing it within important intermediate vocabulary. Learning it will significantly improve your ability to express yourself in English.

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1571 capable
1572 experimental
1573 necessity
1574 expense
1575 entry
1576 powerful
1577 officials
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