noun

disbursement

diss-BURSS-munt

Disbursement (noun) means the paying out of money from a fund or account, especially a formal or scheduled payment such as a loan, grant or dividend. Example: “The first disbursement of the student loan lands a week after enrolment.”

noun

The paying out of money from a fund or account, especially a formal or scheduled payment such as a loan, grant or dividend.

"The first disbursement of the student loan lands a week after enrolment."

"Grant disbursement is conditional on the quarterly progress report."

An expense a professional pays on a client's behalf and later bills back, such as a court fee, search fee or courier charge.

"The invoice lists our fee of £900 plus disbursements of £145."

How to Use Disbursement

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMoney paid out from a fund.

When to use it

Formal; standard in finance, law, accounting and public administration.

Easily confused with

dispersion → reimbursement → distribution →

Common pairings

loan disbursement disbursement schedule fees and disbursements first disbursement

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The first _____ of the student loan lands a week after enrolment.

Etymology

From Old French desbourser 'to pay out', formed from des- 'out of' and bourse 'purse'.

Origin: French

Synonyms

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payment payout outlay expenditure expense

Antonyms

receipt collection

Related Words

group collection investment museum appeal paying receiving payment

Rhymes for disbursement

cement element clement movement pavement tenement inclement abatement amusement statement agreement excrement

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a disbursement and a payment?

Every disbursement is a payment, but the word implies money leaving an organised fund on defined terms — a loan tranche, a grant instalment, a trustee's distribution. A payment is any transfer of money at all, including buying a coffee.

What are disbursements on a solicitor's bill?

They are costs the firm has paid to third parties for you, such as land registry fees, stamp duty, searches or expert reports. They are listed separately from the firm's own fees because the firm is passing them on rather than charging for its time.

How is disbursement spelt?

With an s in the middle: disbursement, from bourse meaning purse. Disbursment and disbursment are misspellings, and it should not be confused with dispersement, which is not a standard word.

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