an estimate, often itemized, of expected income and expense for a given period in the future.
a plan of operations based on such an estimate.
an itemized allotment of funds, time, etc., for a given period.
the total sum of money set aside or needed for a purpose.
the construction budget.
a limited stock or supply of something.
his budget of goodwill.
Obsolete. a small bag; pouch.
to plan allotment of (funds, time, etc.).
to deal with (specific funds) in a budget.
an itemized summary of expected income and expenditure of a country, company, etc, over a specified period, usually a financial year
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
a restriction on expenditure (esp in the phrase on a budget )
(modifier) economical; inexpensive
budget meals for a family
the total amount of money allocated for a specific purpose during a specified period
archaic a stock, quantity, or supply
(tr) to enter or provide for in a budget
to plan the expenditure of (money, time, etc)
(intr) to make a budget
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English bowgett, from Middle French, bougette, from bouge “bag” (from Latin bulga; see bulge) + -ette -ette )
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.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The budget airline hasn’t yet said whether it will charge extra for the Starlink Wi-Fi service.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
Keep in mind this reporter has a precisely zero-dollar budget for data and AI.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
While “Grand Theft Auto V,” released in 2013, cost a record-breaking $265 million to make, its upcoming sequel “Grand Theft Auto VI” is sure to exceed any video game budget in history.
From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2026
The budget includes a provision that restricts the maximum tax credit companies can claim in a given year to $5 million or 50% of a company’s tax state tax liability, whichever is greater.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
I had to make her promise to stick to a budget, and after way too much back and forth, she agreed.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
Budget around your lowest expected income, says Eustache Clerveaux, a CFP based in White Plains, N.Y.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
And as Budget Committee Chairman, Graham pushed for more military spending to enhance U.S. deterrence around the world.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
He was re-elected to the Senate in 2008, 2014 and 2020 and most recently served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.
From Barron's ● Jul. 12, 2026
Budget Energy is the latest energy provider to increase its prices, with a 9.5% hike announced for thousands of customers next month.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 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
And upstart brands looking to grow are settling for lower margins and cutting marketing budgets in hopes they can attract new shoppers with price tags that start with a nine.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
I've spoken to youth workers around the country who describe the pressure they face as budgets are squeezed.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
That has put additional pressure on the budgets of the lower, middle income families.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
Overall, these will have their budgets cut by around 15% but will be given transition funding from a £100m pot to give them time to find commercial sources of income to make up the shortfall.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
The most obvious sign of the difference between the Physics Department and the Rad Lab was the divergence in their research budgets.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
“If the answers are honest and you can afford it without destabilizing yourself, have the best time and go! Don’t let anyone guilt you out of joy you’ve budgeted for,” she told MarketWatch.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 12, 2026
Large losses in the property and casualty segment were below Hannover Re’s budgeted expectation at 206.9 million euros, it said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 11, 2026
Ultimately, it will dampen the very economic activity Congress budgeted to preserve.
From Barron's ● May 5, 2026
Mejia has been critical of the city’s spending on homelessness, citing an instance in which half the money budgeted to address the issue went unspent.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026
Speaker Day featured two speakers—usually small-time celebrities or small-time politicians or small-time academics, the kind of people who would come and speak at a school for the measly three hundred bucks the school budgeted.
From "Looking for Alaska" by John Green
Onigbinde describes it as "a symptom of the dysfunctional budgeting process".
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
The financial media often focuses on investment choices, but it might be more important for people to learn the basics about earning, saving and budgeting first.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026
California is budgeting $135 million for new electric vehicle incentives, with special exceptions for California-based companies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
In the county commission’s budgeting process, which is currently under way, commissioners are preparing two budgets for next year—one if the amendment passes and one if it doesn’t, said Chairman Ralph Thomas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
