disbursement
noun
dis·burse·ment
dis-ˈbərs-mənt 
: the act of paying out money especially from a fund : the act of disbursing
the disbursement of government funds
also
: funds paid out
received monthly disbursements
Did you know?
Disbursement was minted in English in the late 16th century by melding the noun suffix -ment with the verb disburse (which in turn comes, in part, from the Medieval Latin word bursa, meaning “money bag”). During the 16th and 17th centuries, deburse, depurse, and dispurse were deposited in the English language bank as synonyms of disburse. Deburse and depurse were also used respectively to form debursement and depursement, but these synonyms of disburse and disbursement all quickly declined in value and were never redeemed.
Examples of disbursement in a Sentence
substantial disbursements for research and development
the disbursement of the foundation's funds to several cancer research centers
Recent Examples on the Web
This is the plan Parent PLUS loans will automatically roll into if parents take a Parent PLUS disbursement on or after July 1 or don't consolidate their loans before July 1.
—
Medora Lee, USA Today, 18 June 2026
While class members could, in theory, continue selling their claims after that point, industry participants generally expect the market to dry up once buyers can no longer receive direct disbursements from the QSF.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 17 June 2026
The funds are often split into two disbursements — one for the fall semester and one for the spring.
—Evan Zimmer, CNBC, 17 June 2026
As a result, the SBA authorized disbursements of about $29 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans and millions in other federal relief funds that the defendants allegedly spent on themselves, according to prosecutor Jonathan Bailyn.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for disbursement
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Medora Lee, USA Today, 18 June 2026
While class members could, in theory, continue selling their claims after that point, industry participants generally expect the market to dry up once buyers can no longer receive direct disbursements from the QSF.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 17 June 2026
The funds are often split into two disbursements — one for the fall semester and one for the spring.
—Evan Zimmer, CNBC, 17 June 2026
As a result, the SBA authorized disbursements of about $29 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans and millions in other federal relief funds that the defendants allegedly spent on themselves, according to prosecutor Jonathan Bailyn.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for disbursement
Cite this Entry
“Disbursement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disbursement. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
disbursement
noun
dis·burse·ment
dis-ˈbər-smənt
: the act of disbursing
also
: funds paid out
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