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

The expenditure of those munitions goes along with other losses of materiel, including fighter jets, airborne early warning and reconnaissance planes, helicopters and drones. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026

Perhaps the defining competitive advantage of the twenty-first-century university will not be measured by rankings, endowment, enrollment, or research expenditures alone. — David Rosowsky, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

The Kremlin can cut more civilian expenditures from the national budget, too. — Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2026

Consumer price index and personal consumption expenditures readings can sometimes yield different outcomes – and provoke disagreement – regarding the direction that prices are heading. — Brandy Hadley, Fortune, 31 July 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