oncost

noun

plural -s

British

: indirect expense : overhead

Word History

Etymology

Middle English oncost, uncost, from Middle Dutch oncost extra charge, from on- un- (akin to Old English un-) + cost expense, charge, probably from Old French

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!