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

Both campaigns are also getting crucial assists in targeting Latino voters from independent expenditure groups, which aren’t bound by the same contribution limits as campaigns are. — Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Odds for a hike in October also fell in the middle of this week after the release of the personal consumption expenditures price index, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, on Wednesday showed cooler-than-expected prices. — Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

This month, Claude attempted the same task — sans the 30 people and nearly yearlong expenditure. — Euan Ashley, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026

Even before these changes, a 2026 Mavvrik survey of 396 organizations found that AI expenditures eroded gross margins at about four out of five enterprises for the second consecutive year. — Aruna Veerappan, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 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