family expense

noun

: an expense incurred for whatever is used or kept for use in the family whether necessaries or luxuries

—used in statutes making both husband and wife legally liable for such an expense

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!