budget

[ buhj-it ]

noun

1. an estimate, often itemized, of expected income and expense for a given period in the future.
2. a plan of operations based on such an estimate.
3. an itemized allotment of funds, time, etc., for a given period.
4. the total sum of money set aside or needed for a purpose:

   the construction budget.

5. a limited stock or supply of something:

   his budget of goodwill.

6. Obsolete. a small bag; pouch.

adjective

1. reasonably or cheaply priced:

   budget dresses.

verb (used with object)

, budg·et·ed, budg·et·ing.

1. to plan allotment of (funds, time, etc.).
2. to deal with (specific funds) in a budget.

verb (used without object)

, budg·et·ed, budg·et·ing.

1. to subsist on or live within a budget.

budget

¹

/ ˈbʌdʒɪt /

noun

1. an itemized summary of expected income and expenditure of a country, company, etc, over a specified period, usually a financial year
2. an estimate of income and a plan for domestic expenditure of an individual or a family, often over a short period, such as a month or a week
3. a restriction on expenditure (esp in the phrase on a budget )
4. modifier economical; inexpensive

   budget meals for a family

5. the total amount of money allocated for a specific purpose during a specified period
6. archaic.
   a stock, quantity, or supply

verb

1. tr to enter or provide for in a budget
2. to plan the expenditure of (money, time, etc)
3. intr to make a budget

Budget

²

/ ˈbʌdʒɪt /

noun

1. the Budget
   an estimate of British government expenditures and revenues and the financial plans for the ensuing fiscal year presented annually to the House of Commons by the Chancellor of the Exchequer

Derived Forms

• ˈbudgetary, adjective

Other Words From

• budg·et·ar·y [buhj, -i-ter-ee], adjective
• budget·er noun
• non·budget·ary adjective
• pre·budget noun adjective
• pre·budget·ary adjective
• pro-budget·ing adjective
• re·budget verb (used with object) rebudgeted rebudgeting
• un·budget·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of budget¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English bowgett, from Middle French, bougette, from bouge “bag” (from Latin bulga; bulge ) + -ette -ette )

Word History and Origins

Origin of budget¹

C15 (meaning: leather pouch, wallet): from Old French bougette , diminutive of bouge , from Latin bulga , of Gaulish origin; compare Old English bælg bag

Example Sentences

Last month the Norwich-based university announced it would be shaving 3% from its budget and could not rule out any compulsory redundancies.

From BBC

The original design, made public in 2021, had sailed through the Public Arts Commission and the Palm Springs City Council, and some 400 donors had raised more than half of the memorial’s $600,000 budget.

From Los Angeles Times

Nearly half of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ record $1.3-billion homelessness budget for fiscal 2023-24 went unspent, an analysis by the city controller found.

From Los Angeles Times

Developing countries also want to get a figure about how money will be from grants, such as in aid budgets, and how much would be private loans.

From BBC

The US’s newest reactors at Plant Vogtle in Georgia opened seven years late, and cost more than $35bn – well over double their original budget.

From BBC

Related Words

• allocate
• calculate