expense

American  

[ik-spens] / ɪkˈspɛns /

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.

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verb (used with object)

expensed, expensing

1. to charge or write off as an expense.

verb (used without object)

expensed, expensing

1. to be expensed.

idioms

1. at the expense of, at the sacrifice of; to the detriment of.

   quantity at the expense of quality.

expense British  

/ 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. to the detriment of

   he succeeded at the expense of his health

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verb

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

expense More Idioms  

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

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Related Words

See price.

Other Word Forms

• expenseless adjective
• preexpense noun

Etymology

Origin of expense

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

Example Sentences

As part of retirement planning, healthcare expenses continue to rise; a 65-year-old retiring in 2025 could expect to spend an average of $172,500 on healthcare expenses throughout their retirement, according to Fidelity Investments.

From MarketWatch

A crowdfunding page set up to cover funeral and memorial expenses, the search for Vazquez’s dog Coco, medical and other costs offered some heartbreaking details.

From Los Angeles Times

Deere reported lower profit in the past quarter, dragged down by the tariffs, which the company previously expected would amount to a $300 million-a-quarter expense.

From The Wall Street Journal

The payoff is less certain when college expenses are rising and artificial intelligence threatens to upend many professions.

From The Wall Street Journal

Airlines are raising fares, adding baggage fees and dialing back routes as they try to cover the skyrocketing costs of jet fuel, which is among the biggest expenses that airlines face.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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