budget

[buhj-it]

noun

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.

adjective

1. reasonably or cheaply priced.

   budget dresses.

verb (used with object)

budgeted, budgeting 

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

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

verb (used without object)

budgeted, budgeting 

1. to subsist on or live within a budget.

budget

¹

/ 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

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

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of budget¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of budget¹

C15 (meaning: leather pouch, wallet): from Old French bougette , diminutive of bouge , from Latin bulga , of Gaulish origin; compare Old English bælg bag

Example Sentences

Labour, under pressure from its own backbenchers, adopted a number of left-wing measures in its budget this week, including raising the minimum wage, boosting child benefits and introducing a new tax on high-value homes.

Read more on Barron's

U.K. investors will turn their attention back to data after the recent budget announcement sparked relief among investors as it leaves the government with a solid fiscal buffer.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“We have something for every budget, with deals across a wide range of price points,” Corie Barry, chief executive at Best Buy Co.

Read more on MarketWatch

But the commission has warned that those options would prove more costly for member states at a time when many are struggling with stretched national budgets.

Read more on Barron's

Work out a monthly budget of your income and expenditures, and stick to it.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• account 
• allocation 
• cost 
• total