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

If the Court strikes down the limits, parties could engage in unlimited coordinated expenditures—expanding national party influence and raising concerns from opponents who warn this would allow large donations to flow more directly to candidates. —Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025

In a landmark 1976 decision about the entire campaign finance law, the Supreme Court said limiting some types of campaign expenditures improperly restricts speech. —Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 7 Dec. 2025

Meta has been spending like crazy, and its stock has taken a hit since late October when management increased its capital expenditure guidance alongside strong earnings. —Morgan Chittum,paulina Likos,matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2025

Thus, the expenditure should have been filed as a campaign contribution to Murphy, and, at more than $13,000, exceeded the annual $1,000 limit for individual contributions in 2023, per the OCPF letter. —Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 5 Dec. 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