budget

1 of 3

noun

bud·​get ˈbə-jət 

1

chiefly dialectal : a usually leather pouch, wallet, or pack

also : its contents

2

: stock, supply

3

: a quantity (as of energy or water) involved in, available for, or assignable to a particular situation

the A-bomb … yields its budget of energy … in a fraction of a second

—Scientific American Reader

also : an account of gains and losses of such a quantity

the global carbon budget

4

finance

a

: a statement of the financial position of an administration (as of a nation) for a definite period of time based on estimates of expenditures during the period and proposals for financing them

b

: a plan for the coordination of resources and expenditures

develop a budget for her company

c

: the amount of money that is available for, required for, or assigned to a particular purpose

a weekly budget for a family of five

a budget of less than $3000

budgetary

ˈbə-jə-ˌter-ē 

-ˌte-rē

adjective

budget

2 of 3

verb

budgeted; budgeting; budgets

transitive verb

1

a

: to put or allow for in a statement or plan coordinating resources and expenditures : to put or allow for in a budget

budgeted $200 a month to pay back student loans

funds budgeted by the administration for the project

b

: to require to adhere to a budget

Budget yourself wisely.

2

a

: to allocate funds for in a budget

budget a new hospital

b

: to plan or provide for the use of in detail

budgeting manpower

Budget your time wisely.

intransitive verb

: to put oneself on a budget

budgeting for a vacation

budget

3 of 3

adjective

: suitable for someone whose is following a plan for coordinating resources and expenditures : suitable for one on a budget (see budget entry 1) : inexpensive

Synonyms

Noun

• account
• deposit
• fund
• kitty
• nest egg
• pool

Verb

• arrange
• blueprint
• calculate
• chart
• choreograph
• design
• frame
• lay out
• map (out)
• organize
• plan
• prepare
• project
• scheme (out)
• shape
• strategize (about)

Adjective

• affordable
• bargain-basement
• cheap
• cheapie
• cheapo
• chintzy
• cut-price [chiefly British]
• cut-rate
• dime-store
• dirt cheap
• el cheapo
• inexpensive
• low
• low-end
• popular
• reasonable

Examples of budget in a Sentence

Noun

What's the average weekly budget for a family of five?

The film has a million-dollar budget.

He's been trying to live on a budget of less than $1,500 a month.

We'll have to work out a budget so we can buy a new car.

Verb

They budgeted millions of dollars to make the film.

The project is budgeted at more than $100,000.

He budgets $50 for entertainment each month.

If we budget carefully, we will be able to go on the trip.

I need to learn how to budget my time more wisely.

Adjective

a budget phone plan for people on fixed incomes

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, also on the budget committee, was skeptical. —Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2024

These measures have far-reaching impacts on residents—for instance, Birmingham’s budget restrictions could mean less frequent garbage collection and dimmer streetlights. —Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 3 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bowgette, from Middle French bougette, diminutive of bouge leather bag, from Latin bulga, of Celtic origin; akin to Middle Irish bolg bag; akin to Old English belg bag — more at belly

Verb

derivative of budget entry 1

Adjective

from attributive use of budget entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1618, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adjective

1941, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing budget

• balance a/the budget
• big-budget
• budget surplus
• low-budget
• on a small/tight/shoestring budget
• over budget
• under budget
• within budget

Kids Definition

budget

1 of 2 noun

bud·​get ˈbəj-ət 

1

: supply entry 2 sense 1a, quantity

2

a

: a statement of estimated income and expenses

b

: a plan for using money

c

: the amount of money available for some purpose

budgetary

ˈbəj-ə-ˌter-ē 

adjective

budget

2 of 2 verb

1

: to put on or in a budget

budget $50 for entertainment

2

: to provide funds for in a budget

budget a new car

3

: to plan the use of

budget one's time

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bowgette "small leather pouch," derived from early French bouge "leather bag," from Latin bulga "leather bag" — related to bulge