First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1expense
noun ex·pense \ik-ˈspen(t)s\
: the amount of money that is needed to pay for or buy something
: an amount of money that must be spent especially regularly to pay for something
: something on which money is spent
Full Definition of EXPENSE
1
archaic : the act or an instance of expending : expenditure
2
3
: a cause or occasion of expenditure <an estate is a great expense>
4
: a loss, detriment, or embarrassment that results from some action or gain : sacrifice <everyone had a good laugh at my expense> —usually used in the phrase at the expense of <develop a boy's physique at the expense of his intelligence — Bertrand Russell>
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Origin of EXPENSE
Middle English, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French, from Late Latin expensa, from Latin, feminine of expensus, past participle of expendere
Related to EXPENSE
- Synonyms
- charge, cost, disbursement, expenditure, outgo, outlay
Other Economics Terms
2expense
verb
ex·pensedex·pens·ing
Definition of EXPENSE
transitive verb
1
: to charge with expenses
2
a : to charge to an expense account b : to write off as an expense
First Known Use of EXPENSE
circa 1909
Other Economics Terms
Rhymes with EXPENSE
EXPENSES Defined for Kids
expense
noun ex·pense \ik-ˈspens\
Definition of EXPENSE for Kids
1
: something spent or required to be spent : cost
2
: a cause for spending <A car can be a great expense.>
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