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 capital expenditure, far larger, is the part that tells you where Oracle is actually putting its weight. — Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026

The suspects then alleged used the information to make personal expenditures. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 27 June 2026

Earlier this year, Microsoft and Meta both cited rising component costs as contributing to their ballooning AI capital expenditures, while Apple’s price hikes showed even the world’s most valuable consumer electronics company isn’t immune. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 27 June 2026

Thanks to annual grocery expenditures of $4,923, annual housing expenditures of $7,514, and annual healthcare expenditures of $7,842, the average retiree in Oklahoma can enjoy 36 years with a million in the bank plus Social Security and 19 years without Social Security benefits. — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 26 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