budget

1 of 3

noun

bud·​get ˈbə-jət 

1

finance

a

: a statement of the financial position of an administration (as of a nation) for a definite period of time based on estimates of expenditures during the period and proposals for financing them

b

: a plan for the coordination of resources and expenditures

develop a budget for her company

c

: the amount of money that is available for, required for, or assigned to a particular purpose

a weekly budget for a family of five

a budget of less than $3000

2

: stock, supply

3

: a quantity (as of energy or water) involved in, available for, or assignable to a particular situation

The A-bomb … yields its budget of energy … in a fraction of a second.

—Scientific American Reader

also : an account of gains and losses of such a quantity

the global carbon budget

4

chiefly dialectal : a usually leather pouch, wallet, or pack

also : its contents

budgetary

ˈbə-jə-ˌter-ē 

-ˌte-rē

adjective

budget

2 of 3

verb

budgeted; budgeting; budgets

transitive verb

1

a

: to put or allow for in a statement or plan coordinating resources and expenditures : to put or allow for in a budget

budgeted $200 a month to pay back student loans

funds budgeted by the administration for the project

b

: to require to adhere to a budget

Budget yourself wisely.

2

a

: to allocate funds for in a budget

budget a new hospital

b

: to plan or provide for the use of in detail

budgeting manpower

Budget your time wisely.

intransitive verb

: to put oneself on a budget

budgeting for a vacation

budget

3 of 3

adjective

: suitable for someone who is following a plan for coordinating resources and expenditures : suitable for one on a budget (see budget entry 1) : inexpensive

Synonyms of budget

Noun

• fund
• deposit
• savings

Verb

• plan
• design
• prepare

Adjective

• reasonable
• cheap
• affordable
• inexpensive
• low

Examples of budget in a Sentence

Noun

What's the average weekly budget for a family of five?

The film has a million-dollar budget.

He's been trying to live on a budget of less than $1,500 a month.

We'll have to work out a budget so we can buy a new car.

Verb

They budgeted millions of dollars to make the film.

The project is budgeted at more than $100,000.

He budgets $50 for entertainment each month.

If we budget carefully, we will be able to go on the trip.

I need to learn how to budget my time more wisely.

Adjective

a budget phone plan for people on fixed incomes

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Don’t be afraid to suggest budget caps for group plans, because everyone relaxes when guidelines are simple and visible. —Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026

Hunting online from Austin with a budget of around $900,000, the Smiths homed in on North Side neighborhoods including Bowmanville, Ravenswood and Lincoln Square. —Carisa Crawford Chappell, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026

Verb

Officials are asking motorists who drive through the area to budget additional time for their commute or seek an alternate route until all lanes reopen. —CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026

Six years later, they are budgeted to hit $238 billion, an increase of 62 percent. —Jim Doti, Oc Register, 8 Mar. 2026

Adjective

The consolidation of the major studios and their pivot toward global franchise economics have also eliminated the mid-budget film — historically the backbone of the American film business. —Ted Hope, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026

The city is allowed to re-budget unspent funding from previous years for eligible projects. —Luke Harold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bowgette, from Middle French bougette, diminutive of bouge leather bag, from Latin bulga, of Celtic origin; akin to Middle Irish bolg bag; akin to Old English belg bag — more at belly

Verb

derivative of budget entry 1

Adjective

from attributive use of budget entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

1618, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adjective

1941, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing budget

• balance a/the budget
• big-budget
• budget surplus
• low-budget
• on a small/tight/shoestring budget
• over budget
• under budget
• within budget

Kids Definition

budget

1 of 2 noun

bud·​get ˈbəj-ət 

1

: supply entry 2 sense 1a, quantity

2

a

: a statement of estimated income and expenses

b

: a plan for using money

c

: the amount of money available for some purpose

budgetary

ˈbəj-ə-ˌter-ē 

adjective

budget

2 of 2 verb

1

: to put on or in a budget

budget $50 for entertainment

2

: to provide funds for in a budget

budget a new car

3

: to plan the use of

budget one's time

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bowgette "small leather pouch," derived from early French bouge "leather bag," from Latin bulga "leather bag" — related to bulge