expense

[ ik-spens ]

noun

1. cost or charge:

   the expense of a good meal.

   Synonyms: expenditure, outlay

2. a cause or occasion of spending:

   A car can be a great expense.

3. the act of expending; expenditure.
4. 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)

, ex·pensed, ex·pens·ing.

1. to charge or write off as an expense.

verb (used without object)

, ex·pensed, ex·pens·ing.

1. to be expensed.

expense

/ ɪkˈspɛns /

noun

1. a particular payment of money; expenditure
2. money needed for individual purchases; cost; charge
3. plural incidental money spent in the performance of a job, commission, etc, usually reimbursed by an employer or allowable against tax
4. something requiring money for its purchase or upkeep

   the car was more of an expense than he had expected

5. at the expense of
   to the detriment of

   he succeeded at the expense of his health

verb

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

Other Words From

• ex·penseless adjective
• preex·pense noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of expense¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of expense¹

C14: from Late Latin expēnsa, from Latin expēnsus weighed out; see expend

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. 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 .

Synonym Study

See price.

Example Sentences

Given all the uncertainty and expense, you might wonder why investors put money into new electric aircraft in the first place.

From BBC

They said visitors have crowded onto riverbanks, looking for that perfect shot at the expense of “increasing erosion and trampling vegetation.”

From Los Angeles Times

But the report quickly raised fears in the context of harsh criticism by Trump and those in his inner circle of “woke generals” — a catchall phrase for those who are derided for allegedly promoting diversity and inclusion at the expense of military readiness.

From Los Angeles Times

The Scottish Conservatives accused him of having a "jolly to watch the football" at taxpayers' expense.

From BBC

Allowing social media platforms to publish disinformation, often anonymously, promotes dishonesty and maximizes profits for those platforms at the expense of the audience they exploit.

From Salon

Related Words

• amount
• budget
• charge
• consumption
• debt
• expenditure
• insurance
• investment
• liability
• loan
• loss
• mortgage
• obligation
• outlay
• payroll
• price
• price tag
• rate
• risk
• spending