disbursement

American  

[dis-burs-muhnt] / dɪsˈbɜrs mənt /

noun

• disbursements
  plural

1. the act or an instance of disbursing.

2. money paid out or spent.

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Usage

What does disbursement mean? Disbursement is the act of paying out money, or the payment itself. Because the meaning of disbursement focuses on money and payment, the word is almost exclusively used in financial and business spheres—especially when the exchange of money is formal. Example: The disbursement of paychecks was delayed due to a clerical error, causing much grumbling among the staff.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nondisbursement
  noun
• redisbursement
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• disbursements
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of disbursement

From the Middle French word desboursement, dating back to 1590–1600. See disburse, -ment

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Explanation

Disbursement means the payment of money from a fund or account. If the disbursement of paychecks at your job was delayed because your boss forgot to fill out some paperwork, you'd probably be furious. Disbursement is a noun that describes the spending or distributing of money. Governments manage the disbursement of funds to various departments and groups. The word disbursement comes from the Old French word desbourser, "extract money from a purse," with bourse meaning "purse." Don't confuse disbursement with dispersement, which means "separating or scattering."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

disbursement disbursements

The plan, including the eligibility, application, approval, disbursement, control and audit requirements, will be finalised by the Fifa council at its next meeting in December 2026.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

Kanin’s attorneys argue the disbursement delay was caused by incomplete records and due diligence concerns — worries further snarled by the so-called slayer statute barring Californians from inheriting from people they have killed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

In January 2025, the OMB released a memo that ordered all federal agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance.”

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026

"We are urging all partners, donors... to fast-track the disbursement of those resources."

From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026

He kept a correct book entry of every business transaction and produced a written voucher for every disbursement he had made of public funds.

From Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution by L. Carroll Judson

Molina’s responsibilities in the nonprofit included co-signing checks, keeping records of receipts and expenditures, making disbursements approved by the board, receiving dues and providing financial statements to the board, according to the indictment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

Many people ladder their CDs for monthly, quarterly or yearly disbursements so they can continually refill their coffers without having to worry about stock-market volatility.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026

Outside of monetary policy, inflation impacts mortgage rates for homeowners, eligibility for school lunch subsidies, Social Security disbursements, and more.

From Slate ● Apr. 24, 2026

In some cases this will involve adjusting existing loan programs, including by accelerating disbursements or providing additional financing.

From Barron's ● Apr. 9, 2026

The total receipts of the Festival amounted to £5,095 16s., and the disbursements to £4,179 12s. 1d.

From Norfolk Annals A Chronological Record of Remarkable Events in the Nineteeth Century, Vol. 2 by Charles Mackie

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Related Words

• expenditure
• outlay
• spending

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