defray

verb

de·​fray di-ˈfrā 

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

di-ˈfrā-ə-bəl 

dē-

adjective

defrayal

di-ˈfrā(-ə)l 

dē-

noun

Examples of defray in a Sentence

This will defray the costs.

Recent Examples on the Web

Thousands of elderly Americans survive on under $2,000 a month Long-term care insurance helps defray caregiving costs for elderly Americans who need assistance with daily tasks such bathing, dressing or eating. —Elizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 15 Aug. 2024

Students get a $7,500 scholarship for both freshman and sophomore years to help defray the cost of tuition. —La Risa R. Lynch, Journal Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2024

Washington assembled a huge military coalition to oust him, but Tokyo refused to send troops, paying $13 billion instead to help defray the costs. —Michael Auslin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2016

Allied contributions can defray some of the current funding deficiencies, but nowhere near all of them. —Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 22 Feb. 2022

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

Kids Definition

defray

verb

de·​fray di-ˈfrā 

: to pay or provide for the payment of

more money to defray expenses