defray

verb

de·​fray di-ˈfrā How to pronounce defray (audio)
dē-
defrayed; defraying; defrays

transitive verb

1
: to provide for the payment of : pay
sold advertising on his website to help defray the cost of running it
2
archaic : to bear the expenses of (a person)
defrayable adjective
defrayal noun

Examples of defray in a Sentence

This will defray the costs.
Recent Examples on the Web Companies have also experimented with other ways to defray certification costs. Jo Constantz, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2024 Durbin-Marshall jeopardizes the credit card reward programs consumers rely on to buy groceries and gas and defray the cost of visiting family during the holidays. Richard Hunt, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2024 In the meantime, school districts can defray their expenses by letting utilities use buses to store energy. Ivan Penn, New York Times, 7 Nov. 2023 In some cases, developers have offered money to help defray the cost of improving roads that connect to new neighborhoods, incentivizing paving. Jayne Orenstein, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2024 These showers can help defray the exorbitant costs of adoption—and, importantly—celebrate this significant family milestone. Nayanika Guha, Parents, 25 Jan. 2024 And some states may use state or federal money to defray some or all of the cost for students. The New York Times, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024 Another proposal would allocate $13 million toward one-time payments to help defray increases in health care costs for county workers and another would create a pilot program to explore helping subsidize housing costs for the same workforce. Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Jan. 2024 Some defrayed living expenses large and small — private school tuition, vehicle batteries, tires. Justin Elliott, ProPublica, 18 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'defray.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French deffroyer, from des- de- + frayer to expend, from Old French, from frais, plural of fret, frait expenditure, literally, damage by breaking, from Latin fractum, neuter of fractus, past participle of frangere to break — more at break

First Known Use

1536, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of defray was in 1536

Dictionary Entries Near defray

Cite this Entry

“Defray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defray. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

defray

verb
de·​fray di-ˈfrā How to pronounce defray (audio)
: to pay or provide for the payment of
more money to defray expenses
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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