expenditure

noun

ex·​pen·​di·​ture ik-ˈspen-di-chər 

-də-ˌchu̇r,

-də-ˌt(y)u̇r

1

: the act or process of expending

an expenditure of energy

2

: something expended : disbursement, expense

income should exceed expenditures

Synonyms

• charge
• cost
• disbursement
• expense
• outgo
• outlay

Examples of expenditure in a Sentence

an increase in military expenditures

an increase in military expenditure

vast expenditures of time and effort

The energy expenditure was significant.

the expenditure of funds for the new school

The project will require an expenditure of effort on everyone's part.

Recent Examples on the Web

Capital expenditures were approximately $22,094,406, focused on infrastructure improvements and customer growth, with plans to continue similar levels of investment in the coming years. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 5 Dec. 2024

According to the complaint, these expenditures lacked transparency and violated government auditing rules. —Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024

Culpo loves finding ways to make holiday expenditures more strategic, such as with her PayPal debit card. —Jessica Ourisman, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024

Statistics from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute showed that world military expenditures increased for the ninth consecutive year in 2023, up 6.8% year-over-year and reaching a total of $2.44 trillion. —Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 3 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

irregular from expend

First Known Use

1769, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

expenditure

noun

ex·​pen·​di·​ture ik-ˈspen-di-chər 

-də-ˌchu̇(ə)r

1

: the act of spending (as money, time, or energy)

2

: something that is spent

Legal Definition

expenditure

noun

ex·​pen·​di·​ture ik-ˈspen-di-chər, -ˌchu̇r 

1

: the act or process of paying out

2

: something paid out see also capital expenditure