line item

noun

: an appropriation that is itemized on a separate line in a budget
line-item adjective

Examples of line item 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.
This isn’t about defending a line item on a bill. Lisa Mallozzi, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2026 The latest chapter in this endless epic belongs to Kansas State, which is trying to line item its way out of paying Jerome Tang the money the administration offered him. Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026 PSyn’s role in that process, Jones says, is to help organizations see the full picture, so decisions are informed by structure, data, and context rather than isolated line items. Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026 How to read charges on your utility bills The big line items on your bill are in two parts. John Shumway, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for line item

Word History

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of line item was in 1962

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Line item.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/line%20item. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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