disbursement

noun

dis·​burse·​ment dis-ˈbərs-mənt 

: the act of paying out money especially from a fund : the act of disbursing

the disbursement of government funds

also : funds paid out

received monthly disbursements

Did you know?

Disbursement was minted in English in the late 16th century by melding the noun suffix -ment with the verb disburse (which in turn comes, in part, from the Medieval Latin word bursa, meaning “money bag”). During the 16th and 17th centuries, deburse, depurse, and dispurse were deposited in the English language bank as synonyms of disburse. Deburse and depurse were also used respectively to form debursement and depursement, but these synonyms of disburse and disbursement all quickly declined in value and were never redeemed.

Synonyms

• charge
• cost
• expenditure
• expense
• outgo
• outlay

Examples of disbursement in a Sentence

substantial disbursements for research and development

the disbursement of the foundation's funds to several cancer research centers

Recent Examples on the Web

Fund disbursement: The loans on our list deliver funds promptly through either an electronic wire transfer to your checking account or in the form of a paper check. —Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2024

The timing of the loan’s disbursement has been called into question, coming about two weeks before the presidential election between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris. —Aamer Madhani and Fatima Hussein, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024

On the other hand, Ukraine risks losing an anticipated $4.25 billion in E.U. funding due to delays in enacting legislative reforms related to corruption, which could delay disbursement until next year. —Katya Soldak, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024

Once allowed in early 2023, direct cash payments quickly became the most popular disbursement method. —Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 10 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

disburse + -ment, perhaps after Middle French desboursement

First Known Use

circa 1599, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

disbursement

noun

dis·​burse·​ment dis-ˈbər-smənt 

: the act of disbursing

also : funds paid out