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

• charge
• cost
• disbursement
• expenditure
• outgo
• outlay

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

Hence, this publication was faced with the shocking prospect of paying nearly $19,000 to procure for this solitary passenger an entire suite—not including drinking expenses—all for the privilege of bringing you this article. —Gary Shteyngart, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2024

Indeed, there are other climate hazards that will cost Angelenos billions in adaptation expenses over the next decade and a half, the report found. —Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024

Do a financial checkup Before hunting for your dream home, take stock of your income, savings, expenses and debt. —Jeanne Sahadi, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024

Cardenas’ family established a GoFundMe to help with his funeral expenses. —Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2024

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for marketing and sales, product development, research and development and other general corporate purposes including working capital, operating expenses and capital expenditures. —Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024

In Lewisburg, Kentucky will pay fair market value for the three homes, along with their occupants’ relocation expenses, according to Naitore Djigbenou, spokesperson for the transportation cabinet. —The Enquirer, 3 Apr. 2024

The firm’s work, overseen by the Downtown Partnership at the Prebys Foundation’s expense, is meant to help the city fill in the blanks of its forthcoming solicitation. —Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2024

The company paid nearly $40 million in interest expenses last year and racked up about $16 million in operating losses. —Drew Harwell, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024

Verb

Fitzpatrick, the insurance executive, was able to expense his ticket for a business meeting. —Noah Bierman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024

There’s also confusion about which training providers should qualify, which expenses the scholarships could cover and what value students should receive from the money. —Patrick O'Donnell, The Indianapolis Star, 25 Jan. 2024

Politics San Diego faces a $167 million budget deficit as revenues shrink and expenses rise Feb. 28, 2024 Friday’s pension board meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the downtown headquarters of the pension system, the San Diego City Employees Retirement System. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2024

Though the funding logjam might feel far removed from most people’s daily lives, every time Congress careens toward a partial government closure, expenses that Americans care about – from Social Security checks to travel costs – are threatened. —Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2024

Tier members will have a chance to sign up and qualify for access to the show with hotel accommodation and a voucher towards travel and expenses through drops on the app. —Fielding Buck, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024

Citi told the tribunal the issue had not been the value of the meals Fekete expensed, but that claiming meals for a partner breached its expenses policy — which does not allow expensing meals for spouses — and that Fekete had not been honest when given the opportunity. —Anna Cooban, CNN, 17 Oct. 2023

The business expenses Along with paying and training workers, coffee shop owners must keep the lights on — literally. —Emily Wright, Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2023

The maximum credit allowed for adoptions for tax year 2024 is the amount of qualified adoption expenses up to $16,810, an increase from $15,950 in 2023. —Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner, 9 Nov. 2023

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

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

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