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

Hayes, a cofounder of the bitcoin derivatives pioneer BitMex who now runs the Maelstrom family office, pointed to AI capital expenditure being compared to the pre-industrial revolution railroad build out. —Billy Bambrough, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026

African mobile operators are planning to invest $76 billion in network capital expenditure through 2030, a new report showed. —Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 19 June 2026

Capital expenditure could surpass $700 billion a year by 2031 in one estimate. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 19 June 2026

The program, which is administered by the Office of Film and Cultural Investments (OFIC), offers a 30% cash rebate on eligible production expenditures incurred in Romania. —Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 19 June 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