expense

¹ex·pense

noun \ik-ˈspen(t)s\

Definition of EXPENSE

1

archaic : the act or an instance of expending : expenditure

2

a : something expended to secure a benefit or bring about a result

b : financial burden or outlay : cost <built the monument at their own expense>

c : an item of business outlay chargeable against revenue for a specific period

3

: a cause or occasion of expenditure <an estate is a great expense>

4

: a loss, detriment, or embarrassment that results from some action or gain : sacrifice <everyone had a good laugh at my expense> —usually used in the phrase at the expense of <develop a boy's physique at the expense of his intelligence — Bertrand Russell>

Examples of EXPENSE

1. I don't think a first-class ticket is worth the added expense.
2. The annual fee is simply an expense of doing business.
3. A new car is a major expense.

Origin of EXPENSE

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French, from Late Latin expensa, from Latin, feminine of expensus, past participle of expendere

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to EXPENSE

Synonyms

charge, cost, disbursement, expenditure, outgo, outlay

Related Words

overhead; outflow; pocket money, spending money; price, rate, tab, tariff, toll

Other Economics Terms

actuary, compound interest, globalization, indemnity, portfolio, rentier, stagflation, usurer

²expense

transitive verb

ex·pensedex·pens·ing

Definition of EXPENSE

1

: to charge with expenses

2

a : to charge to an expense account

b : to write off as an expense

First Known Use of EXPENSE

circa 1909

Other Economics Terms

actuary, compound interest, globalization, indemnity, portfolio, rentier, stagflation, usurer

Rhymes with EXPENSE

defense, horse sense, incense, nonsense, past tense, sequence, sixth sense