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

Republicans should entirely repeal the Inflation Reduction Act and heed Trump’s call for repealing the CHIPS Act to help defray the budgetary impact of full expensing. —The Editors, National Review, 9 June 2025

There would be an enhanced deduction, of $4,000, for older adults of certain income levels, to help defray taxes on Social Security income. —Lisa Mascaro, Twin Cities, 22 May 2025

Through the Lightfoot years and in 2024, the first year of Johnson’s term, CPS paid part of the tab, with some of the cost defrayed by declared surpluses from the city’s tax-increment financing districts and the rest handled by federal pandemic aid. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2025

One of his top customers created an online fundraising campaign, hoping to raise $20,000 to help defray some of the losses. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025

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

Rhymes for defray

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway
• beret

Kids Definition

defray

verb

de·​fray di-ˈfrā 

: to pay or provide for the payment of

more money to defray expenses