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
1
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."
2
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 notesIn plain EnglishMoney paid out from a fund.
When to use it
Formal; standard in finance, law, accounting and public administration.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
loan disbursement
disbursement schedule
fees and disbursements
first disbursement
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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'.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for disbursement
cement
element
clement
movement
pavement
tenement
inclement
abatement
amusement
statement
agreement
excrement
See all rhymes for disbursement →
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.
What is the meaning of disbursement?
"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.
