expense account

noun

1. an account of business expenditures, as travel, hotel room, meals, and entertainment connected with work, for which an employee will be reimbursed by an employer.

expense account

noun

1. an arrangement by which expenses incurred in the course of a person's work are refunded by his employer or deducted from his income for tax purposes
2. a record of such expenses
3. informal.
   modifier paid for by an employer or by money allowable against tax

   an expense-account lunch

expense account

1. An account or list of expenses incurred in doing business outside the office, part of which is a tax deduction . The term often applies to lunches or dinners at which business deals are made and clients entertained.

Word History and Origins

Origin of expense account¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

In 2009, while Mr. Lewis was editor of The Daily Telegraph, Mr. Winnett revealed that politicians had used government expense accounts to spend lavishly.

From New York Times

He could exasperate editors with his strongly held opinions and his prodigal ways with an expense account.

From New York Times

Soon, Santos appears to have started directly using his campaign funds — assembled from small and large donors who believed they were supporting a Republican for Congress — as a personal expense account.

From Seattle Times

When it did not, the bill was paid through the governor’s $95,000 annual expense account.

From Seattle Times

And, of course, it has also inspired envy among those of us at The Times who cover culture and probably can’t justify a $3,250 Zoom on the ol’ expense account.

From Los Angeles Times