expense

1 of 2

noun

ex·​pense ik-ˈspen(t)s 

1

a

: financial burden or outlay : cost

built the monument at their own expense

b

: an item of business outlay chargeable against revenue for a specific period

c

: something expended to secure a benefit or bring about a result

2

: a cause or occasion of expenditure

an estate is a great expense

3

: a loss, detriment, or embarrassment that results from some action or gain : sacrifice

everyone had a good laugh at my expense

—usually used in the phrase at the expense of

develop a boy's physique at the expense of his intelligence

—Bertrand Russell

4

archaic : the act or an instance of expending : expenditure

expense

2 of 2

verb

expensed; expensing

transitive verb

1

a

: to charge to an expense account

b

: to write off as an expense

2

: to charge with expenses

Synonyms

Noun

• cost
• expenditure

Examples of expense in a Sentence

Noun

I don't think a first-class ticket is worth the added expense.

The annual fee is simply an expense of doing business.

A new car is a major expense.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Prosecutors allege that Measures used that money, which was held in an escrow account for clients, to pay for personal and operating expenses, pay off creditors, Four Seasons spa treatments, clothing, car payments and at least $55,000 for Los Angeles Crypto Arena seats. —Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2025

Funds become accessible at 18 for qualified expenses, with broader withdrawal options phased in over time. —James Broughel, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025

Verb

Across Hollywood representation firms, there have been layoffs of agents, managers and support staff, expenses reductions or freezes as well as temporary salary cuts. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 11 July 2025

Three decades ago, Clinton accepted the short-term political costs of bringing federal revenues and expenses back into line. —Paul Weinstein Jr, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French, from Late Latin expensa, from Latin, feminine of expensus, past participle of expendere

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

circa 1909, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing expense

• at someone's expense
• at the expense of
• expense account
• go to (the) expense
• spare no expense

Rhymes for expense

• commence
• condense
• defence
• defense
• dispense
• fourpence
• halfpence
• immense
• incense
• intense
• missense
• offence

Kids Definition

expense

noun

ex·​pense

ik-ˈspen(t)s

1

: something spent or required to be spent : cost

2

: a cause of spending

a car is a great expense

Legal Definition

expense

1 of 2 noun

ex·​pense

: financial burden or outlay

specifically : an item of business outlay chargeable against revenue for a specific period

— business expense

: an expense made in furtherance of one's business especially as part of the cost of operating a business in the taxable year in which the expense is incurred compare capital expense and personal expense in this entry

Note: Business expenses are generally tax deductible in the year the expense is incurred.

— capital expense

: an expense made in a business that will provide a long-term benefit : capital expenditure

Note: Capital expenses are not tax deductible as business expenses but may be used for depreciation or amortization.

— moving expense

: an expense incurred in changing one's residence that is tax deductible if incurred for business reasons (as when one's job requires relocation)

— ordinary and necessary expense

: an expense that is normal or customary and helpful and appropriate for the operation of a particular business or trade and that is made during the taxable year

called also ordinary and necessary business expense

Note: Ordinary and necessary expenses are tax deductible.

— personal expense

: an expense incurred in the course of one's personal affairs as distinguished from the course of one's employment or the operation of a business compare business expense in this entry

Note: Personal expenses are usually not tax deductible.

expense

2 of 2 transitive verb

expensed; expensing

1

: to charge with expenses

2

: to write off as an expense