expenditure

noun

ex·​pen·​di·​ture ik-ˈspen-di-chər 

-də-ˌchu̇r, 

-də-ˌt(y)u̇r

1

: the act or process of expending

an expenditure of energy

2

: something expended : disbursement, expense

Your income should exceed your expenditures.

Synonyms of expenditure

• expense
• cost

Examples of expenditure in a Sentence

an increase in military expenditures

an increase in military expenditure

vast expenditures of time and effort

The energy expenditure was significant.

the expenditure of funds for the new school

The project will require an expenditure of effort on everyone's part.

Recent Examples on the Web

To reassure unit owners that all expenditures are above board, associations should provide them with periodic reports. —Meily Perez, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026

The personal consumption expenditures price index that's set to release Thursday, for example, is expected to show inflation moving farther away from the central bank's 2% target. —Sarah Min, CNBC, 22 May 2026

Independent expenditures and campaigns cannot coordinate, under campaign finance law. —Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026

Outside of campaign committees, Sokoloff’s mother, Sheryl, has contributed $5 million to her son’s campaign as an independent expenditure since May 7. —Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably from Medieval Latin expenditus, variant past participle of Latin expendere "to weigh, pay out, expend" + -ure

First Known Use

1769, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

expenditure

noun

ex·​pen·​di·​ture ik-ˈspen-di-chər 

-də-ˌchu̇(ə)r

1

: the act of spending (as money, time, or energy)

2

: something that is spent

Legal Definition

expenditure

noun

ex·​pen·​di·​ture ik-ˈspen-di-chər, -ˌchu̇r 

1

: the act or process of paying out

2

: something paid out see also capital expenditure