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 relentless capital expenditures, much of which is coming via debt, have made Wall Street nervous about whether AI companies will be able to translate all those outlays into sustainable revenue and profits. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Nov. 2025

Other major reports in the wings – likely in various stages of completion – include September data on wholesale inflation, import and export prices, quarterly employment costs, annual consumer expenditures, retail sales, gross domestic product and consumer spending. —Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 14 Nov. 2025

Among them are personal income and spending, which includes the Fed’s main inflation forecasting measure, the personal consumption expenditures price index, and gross domestic product. —Jeff Cox, CNBC, 14 Nov. 2025

Carrillo is the one who proposed starting a farmers market in Franklin, saying the first steps would’ve been to find sponsors to fund between $15,000 and $20,000 worth of startup costs to cover expenditures such as equipment, paperwork and staffing. —Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 14 Nov. 2025

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