expenditure

noun

ex·​pen·​di·​ture ik-ˈspen-di-chər 

-də-ˌchu̇r, 

-də-ˌt(y)u̇r

1

: the act or process of expending

an expenditure of energy

2

: something expended : disbursement, expense

Your income should exceed your expenditures.

Synonyms of expenditure

• expense
• cost

Examples of expenditure in a Sentence

an increase in military expenditures

an increase in military expenditure

vast expenditures of time and effort

The energy expenditure was significant.

the expenditure of funds for the new school

The project will require an expenditure of effort on everyone's part.

Recent Examples on the Web

One of its earliest directors spent outrageous sums on art, believing the expenditures would help burnish the orphanage’s name and lure generous donors (who remained scarce). —Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025

At the same time, full-time staff and salary expenditures are reduced by nearly 12 percent and 17 percent, respectively. —Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025

The west side of the county–including Meridian, Eagle and Star–would have the most projects on the ACHD list, meaning greater expenditure and higher fees than the east side, which as drawn includes Boise. —Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 10 Nov. 2025

Alongside their most recent earnings, Meta Platforms , and the world's three biggest cloud companies — Amazon , Microsoft , and Alphabet 's Google — all hiked their capital expenditure outlooks. —Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably from Medieval Latin expenditus, variant past participle of Latin expendere "to weigh, pay out, expend" + -ure

First Known Use

1769, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

expenditure

noun

ex·​pen·​di·​ture ik-ˈspen-di-chər 

-də-ˌchu̇(ə)r

1

: the act of spending (as money, time, or energy)

2

: something that is spent

Legal Definition

expenditure

noun

ex·​pen·​di·​ture ik-ˈspen-di-chər, -ˌchu̇r 

1

: the act or process of paying out

2

: something paid out see also capital expenditure