EXPENSE Definition & Meaning

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expense

[ ik-spens ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

cost or charge:
the expense of a good meal.
Synonyms: ,
a cause or occasion of spending:
A car can be a great expense.
the act of expending; expenditure.
expenses,
1. charges incurred during a business assignment or trip.
2. money paid as reimbursement for such charges:
  to receive a salary and expenses.

verb (used with object)

expensed, expensing.

to charge or write off as an expense.

verb (used without object)

expensed, expensing.

to be expensed.

expense

/ ɪ��ˈ��ɛ�Բ� /

noun

a particular payment of money; expenditure
money needed for individual purchases; cost; charge
plural incidental money spent in the performance of a job, commission, etc, usually reimbursed by an employer or allowable against tax
something requiring money for its purchase or upkeep
the car was more of an expense than he had expected
at the expense of
to the detriment of
he succeeded at the expense of his health

verb

tr to treat as an expense for book-keeping or tax purposes

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Other �y��vlog Forms

��·��Բ��l�� adjective
��e��·��Բ�� noun

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of expense¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin ��ŧ�Բ��, noun use of feminine of ��ŧ�Բ��ܲ�, past participle of expendere “to weigh out, pay”; expend

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of expense¹

C14: from Late Latin ��ŧ�Բ��, from Latin ��ŧ�Բ��ܲ� weighed out; see expend

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Idioms and Phrases

at the expense of, at the sacrifice of; to the detriment of:
quantity at the expense of quality.

More idioms and phrases containing expense

see at the expense of ; go to the trouble (expense) ; money (expense) is no object .

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Synonym Study

See price.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He says that since January, the company has been receiving more enquiries from the US, including two customers Robinsons Brothers lost five years ago "at great expense".

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"It's really tough because our labour force is the main expense in our business," she said.

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Ordaz’s increased playing time has come, at least partially, at the expense of Olivier Giroud, a World Cup champion and France’s all-time leading scorer.

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The family is seeking $10 million for pain and suffering, funeral costs and other expenses stemming from Allen’s death.

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When Trump spoke on Wednesday, he played up the old tropes of rugged individualism for America and said our allies “profited at our expense.”

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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