indirect cost

noun

: a cost that is not identifiable with a specific product, function, or activity

Examples of indirect cost in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Other indirect costs, related to the cost of fuel and packaging, tend to hit later. Aya S. Chacar, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026 Many of the nation’s most elite research institutions typically receive 50% or more of their direct research expenses to cover indirect costs. Megan Molteni, STAT, 8 Apr. 2026 Other indirect costs, related to the cost of fuel and packaging, tend to hit later. Aya S. Chacar, The Conversation, 6 Apr. 2026 Treatment can be costly, and indirect costs – such as the effects on a community’s workforce – can also be substantial. Evan MacDonald, Houston Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for indirect cost

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of indirect cost was circa 1909

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Cite this Entry

“Indirect cost.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indirect%20cost. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.

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