expense
ihk-SPEHNS
Expense (noun) means Money spent on something; a cost. Example: “Travel is my biggest expense each month.”
noun
1
Money spent on something; a cost.
"Travel is my biggest expense each month."
"The company covers work-related expenses."
"Rent is the largest expense for most students in the city."
verb
1
To bill a cost to one's employer or business account.
"He expensed the client dinner to the company."
"Can I expense the train ticket, or do I pay for it myself?"
"She expensed her lunch because she was meeting a customer."
How to use expense
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA cost you pay, or the act of charging that cost to a business.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
living expenses
at great expense
expense account
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Word forms
- Plural
- expenses
- Third person singular
- expenses
- Past tense
- expensed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Travel is my biggest _____ each month.
Etymology
From Old French espense, from Late Latin expensa, related to Latin expendere — the same root as "expend."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for expense
See all rhymes for expense →Frequently asked questions
What does “expense” mean?
The word “expense” means money spent on something; a cost. In plain terms, a cost you pay, or the act of charging that cost to a business.
How do you pronounce “expense”?
“Expense” is pronounced ihk-SPEHNS (/ɪkˈspɛns/ in IPA).
How do you use “expense” in a sentence?
Here is “expense” used in a sentence: “Travel is my biggest expense each month.”
What part of speech is “expense”?
Depending on how it is used, “expense” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “expense” come from?
The word “expense” comes from Late Latin. From Old French espense, from Late Latin expensa, related to Latin expendere — the same root as "expend.".
Is “expense” a common word?
“Expense” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “expense” have?
“Expense” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: money spent on something; a cost.
What is the difference between expense and cost?
Cost usually refers to the amount of money needed to buy or produce something, while expense often emphasises money that is paid out, especially in business or accounting. In practice they overlap, but "expenses" frequently describes ongoing outgoings such as travel or supplies.
What is the difference between expense and expenditure?
Both refer to money spent, but expenditure is more formal and often describes the total amount spent by an organisation or government, while expense usually refers to an individual cost. Expenses can also mean money reimbursed for work-related spending.
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