expense

1 of 2

noun

ex·​pense ik-ˈspen(t)s 

1

a

: financial burden or outlay : cost

A first-class ticket isn't worth the extra expense.

They built the monument at their own expense. [=they paid for the monument]

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

Those who have no experience of teaching are incapable of imagining the expense of spirit entailed …

—Bertrand Russell

2

: a cause or occasion of expenditure

A new car is a major 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

acquired power at the expense of relationships

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 of expense

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

The same one, at great expense. —Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025

Only 48 percent—slightly less than the majority—had an emergency fund covering at least three months of expenses. —Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025

Verb

Sheffield's donors and expenses The council president's top contribution was $83,250 from the Michigan Laborers' Political League PAC. —Dana Afana, Freep.com, 25 Oct. 2025

According to Kroll Settlement Administration, the settlement fund covers attorney’s fees and expenses up to $200,000, service award to class representatives up to $3,000 and settlement administration costs, which are still to be determined. —Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English expens, expense "action of spending, sums spent," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin expensa "money paid out, expenditure," noun derivative (with pecūnia "money" understood) of feminine past participle of expendere "to weigh, pay out, expend"

Verb

derivative of expense entry 1

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
• at their own expense
• 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