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

George said his group wants to focus on primary care expenses as other expenditures grow. —CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026

The company's capital expenditures this year will top $25 billion—higher than expected—and executives said that capex in the next fiscal year will increase by another $10 billion, according to Bloomberg. —Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026

The Biggs amendment would have permanently stopped deficit spending by limiting federal expenditures to the average annual revenue collected over the previous three years. —Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 2026

This case involves expenditures Bolton has long championed, to use video production, online promotion and advertising to showcase the city — and not incidentally, to promote Bolton, too. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 18 Mar. 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