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 According to Gallup, the direct and indirect cost of replacing an employee can range from one-half to two times the position’s salary. Victoria Burkhart, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 As for indirect costs, which include those not working or spending money, Mulyadi says these are often trickier to quantify. Dana Feldman, Forbes, 17 July 2023 According to the University of Alabama’s website, total direct and indirect costs for the 2022-23 year associated with one year on campus total $53,364. William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al, 4 May 2023 This cost includes the direct financial impact, such as regulatory fines and legal fees, as well as indirect costs such as reputational damage and lost customers. Tony Bradley, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2023 Another consideration is that legal changes can be costly, both in terms of the direct costs of implementation and enforcement, and in terms of indirect costs. IEEE Spectrum, 22 Mar. 2023 Since protecting social robots would effectively limit people’s property rights, indirect costs could range from a distortion of market incentives to negative effects on research and development investments. IEEE Spectrum, 22 Mar. 2023 And experts expect the public to shoulder indirect costs related to the move, depending on how the saga resolves. Chuck Todd, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2023 Last year, city officials attempted to figure out just how much the city was spending on homelessness, both in direct and indirect costs. Sarah Ravani, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'indirect cost.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1909, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near indirect cost

Cite this Entry

“Indirect cost.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indirect%20cost. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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