out-of-pocket

1 of 2

adjective

out-of-pock·​et ˌau̇t-ə(v)-ˈpä-kət 

: requiring an outlay of cash

out-of-pocket expenses

out of pocket

2 of 2

adverb

1

: from cash on hand : with one's own money rather than with money from another source (such as an insurance company)

With so many people willing to pay out of pocket most insurance companies do not pay for the procedure, because they regard it as "cosmetic" …

—Kenneth Chang

2

chiefly British

a

: in the position of having lost money

On Oct. 7, the government suddenly pulled the plug on Railtrack PLC, the privatized owner of Britain's railway infrastructure, leaving the company's 250,000 shareholders out of pocket.

—Kerry Capell

b

: out of funds : without money

My wife and I are already consumers of Straus's organic yogurt, butter, cream and ice cream, although I admit when I am feeling out of pocket I opt for a slightly cheaper competitor.

—Larry Gallagher

Examples of out-of-pocket in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

This means that out-of-pocket premium costs for ACA marketplace enrollees will increase by more than 75 percent, meaning many healthier enrollees could drop their coverage, which can, in turn, increase the cost of premiums. —Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025

But all forms of flu vaccination are covered by insurance, so most people will pay about the same amount in any out-of-pocket costs, depending on their insurance plan. —Alice Park, Time, 15 Aug. 2025

Adverb

Seniors on Medicare will pay no more than $35 per month out of pocket, thanks to a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act that went into effect Jan. 1. —Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 14 Mar. 2023

Biden will also propose benefit changes that includes limiting to $2 how much a Medicare recipient must pay out of pocket for certain generic drugs. —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1885, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1679, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Rhymes for out-of-pocket

• docket
• locket
• pocket
• rocket
• socket
• sprocket
• pickpocket
• skyrocket

Legal Definition

out-of-pocket

adjective

: requiring an outlay of cash

out-of-pocket expenses