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.
While Reeves said she had improved the flexibility in the government's budget by increasing its financial headroom, she added the public must be left in no doubt about the party's commitment to fiscal discipline.
From BBC • Jun. 25, 2026
And the federal budget deficit this year is expected to be $1.9 trillion.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 25, 2026
The U.S. investment firm urged shareholders to consider the offer as it seeks to take the budget airline private.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 24, 2026
Berlin will instead order eight smaller ships from rival German contractor TKMS, the defence ministry said, adding it would seek approval from parliament's budget committee "as quickly as possible".
From Barron's • Jun. 24, 2026
The entire Zanmi Lasante annual budget for all of its services was $1.5 million, half of that in the form of donated drugs.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
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.
