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• budget
  budget

  noun

  an estimate, often itemized, of expected income and expense for a given period in the future.
• Budget
  Budget

  noun

  an estimate of British government expenditures and revenues and the financial plans for the ensuing fiscal year presented annually to the House of Commons by the Chancellor of the Exchequer

budget

American  

[buhj-it] / ˈbʌdʒ ɪt /

noun

• budgets
  plural

1. an estimate, often itemized, of expected income and expense for a given period in the future.

2. a plan of operations based on such an estimate.

3. an itemized allotment of funds, time, etc., for a given period.

4. the total sum of money set aside or needed for a purpose.

   the construction budget.

5. a limited stock or supply of something.

   his budget of goodwill.

6. Obsolete. a small bag; pouch.

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adjective

1. reasonably or cheaply priced.

   budget dresses.

verb (used with object)

• budgets,
  present (3rd person singular)
• budgeted,
  past participle,  past
• budgeting
  present participle

1. to plan allotment of (funds, time, etc.).

2. to deal with (specific funds) in a budget.

verb (used without object)

• budgets,
  present (3rd person singular)
• budgeted,
  past participle,  past
• budgeting
  present participle

1. to subsist on or live within a budget.

budget ¹ British  

/ ˈbʌdʒɪt /

noun

1. an itemized summary of expected income and expenditure of a country, company, etc, over a specified period, usually a financial year

2. an estimate of income and a plan for domestic expenditure of an individual or a family, often over a short period, such as a month or a week

3. a restriction on expenditure (esp in the phrase on a budget )

4. (modifier) economical; inexpensive

   budget meals for a family

5. the total amount of money allocated for a specific purpose during a specified period

6. archaic a stock, quantity, or supply

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verb

1. (tr) to enter or provide for in a budget

2. to plan the expenditure of (money, time, etc)

3. (intr) to make a budget

Budget ² British  

/ ˈbʌdʒɪt /

noun

1. an estimate of British government expenditures and revenues and the financial plans for the ensuing fiscal year presented annually to the House of Commons by the Chancellor of the Exchequer

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• budgeter
  noun
• prebudget
  noun
• rebudget
  verb (used with object)
• budgetary
  adjective
• nonbudgetary
  adjective
• prebudgetary
  adjective
• pro-budgeting
  adjective
• unbudgeted
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• budgets
  plural

Participles

• budgeting
  present
• budgeted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• budget
  simple
• budgets
  simple
• have budgeted
  perfect
• has budgeted
  perfect
• am budgeting
  progressive
• are budgeting
  progressive
• is budgeting
  progressive
• have been budgeting
  perfect progressive
• has been budgeting
  perfect progressive

Past

• budgeted
  simple
• had budgeted
  perfect
• was budgeting
  progressive
• were budgeting
  progressive
• had been budgeting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will budget
  simple
• will have budgeted
  perfect
• will be budgeting
  progressive
• will have been budgeting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of budget

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English bowgett, from Middle French, bougette, from bouge “bag” (from Latin bulga; see bulge) + -ette -ette )

Explanation

A budget is a sum of money set aside and divided up to cover particular expenses. Like allotting certain amounts for food, rent, movies, and manicures every month to make sure you don't run out of cash. From the Middle French bougette, the noun budget translated to “leather pouch” when it was first used in the early 15th century. Perhaps a leather pouch to hold gold coins? It wasn’t until 1733 that the word took on the more specific financial meaning it has nowadays. You can budget all sorts of things, including time, money, and energy. Every year, Congress tries to balance the federal budget — but that's no easy task.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

budget Budget budgets budgeted budgeting

Historically, a film has typically needed to make 2½ to three times its budget to recoup its costs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026

"I am seeking engagements around the budget, I want to work with parties to make a better society for everyone."

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Sunday promised to make changes to the planned budget 2027 to respond to some demands set out in an online platform the government set up to gather students' views.

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

I suggested hiring an independent geriatric-care manager and setting up a formal caregiving budget so my sister could be paid for part of what she does.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 12, 2026

In that way players can budget their time in whatever way they wish.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Chancellor John Healey said the government would look to "provide some breathing space" for households in the Budget.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Agencies must report their progress to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget, and they risk losing funding if they fall behind target.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

He said his Budget "will build on this approach with fiscal discipline helping to deliver economic resilience" and give people "breathing space".

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026

Social Security spending is equal to 5.3% of gross domestic product, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

The Budget Lodging clerk, who seems to have some familiarity with the housing nightmares of low-wage workers, suggests I keep trying motels.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich

Raman voted for three city budgets that funded the program, approving $300 million in 2023 alone.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026

"The combined impact of higher rates and higher energy prices is squeezing household budgets and adding to firms' costs," he says.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

This could be a sign that budgets are so stretched that consumers are using their savings for day-to-day living expenses.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026

This is what gets lost in the noise of storms and lawsuits and renovation budgets: Entertainment is everywhere, but inspiration is rare.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

President Snow takes a seat at the large desk of polished wood where Prim does her homework and my mother her budgets.

From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins

Abubakar has floated a plan for a "targeted" subsidy, described as "capped and budgeted production support tied to fuel refined in Nigeria" to help bring down prices at the pump.

From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026

But manager Diana Logan‑Watts said diesel prices had "rocketed so quickly" that the extra costs were "not something that we had budgeted into account".

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

Current estimates indicate that the second correction and orbital insertion should both require less fuel than originally budgeted.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026

They have budgeted $25,000 a month for 365 days.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

Fadi looked at his budgeted options—cheeseburger minis with French fries or something called a “bean and cheese burrito.”

From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai

Adam Auriemma on budgeting, renting versus buying, investments, financial advisors, and more!

From Slate ● Oct. 3, 2026

She added that, despite "budgeting proactively" and "being as careful as you can with savings and credit cards", rising bills mean people's financial situations are out of their control.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

Cruise was on board after their initial meeting in 2018, but budgeting and schedules delayed the project.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

Related: Classic budgeting rules don’t work anymore — even if your household makes $100,000.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026

When I say run a company, I mean keeping track of inventory, staying in touch with customers, recruiting, project management, product development, scheduling, budgeting, and human resources.

From "The World Is Flat" by Thomas L. Friedman

Related Words

• account
• allocation
• cost
• total