budget

[ buhj-it ]

See synonyms for: budget budgeted budgeting budgetary on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

adjective

reasonably or cheaply priced: budget dresses.

verb (used with object),budg·et·ed, budg·et·ing.

to plan allotment of (funds, time, etc.).
to deal with (specific funds) in a budget.

verb (used without object),budg·et·ed, budg·et·ing.

to subsist on or live within a budget.

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)

Other words from budget

budg·et·ar·y [buhj-i-ter-ee], /ˈbʌdʒ ɪˌtɛr i/, adjective
budg·et·er, noun
non·budg·et·ar·y, adjective
pre·budg·et, noun, adjective
pre·budg·et·ar·y, adjective
pro-budg·et·ing, adjective
re·budg·et, verb (used with object), re·budg·et·ed, re·budg·et·ing.
un·budg·et·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use budget in a sentence

Between 1974—when the modern era of budgeting started on Capitol Hill—and 1980, there were several government shutdowns.
This Loophole Can End the Government Shutdown | Ben Jacobs | October 12, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
People who live on chronically low incomes know all about budgeting.
McDonald’s and Visa Conjure Fantasy Budget for Low-Wage Employees | Daniel Gross | July 16, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
But we should not act as if this is a substitute for sensible budgeting.
All We Need is Growth | Megan McArdle | January 28, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
In any kind of budgeting situation, you want to start with the moves that are the least painful.
Easy Choices On Health Care: There Aren't Any | Megan McArdle | January 23, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Our messages about war budgeting and the money in politics are the same for both Democrats and Republicans.
Medea Benjamin and Code Pink Protest the RNC in Tampa | Lynn Waddell | August 28, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST

We might well begin with common sense in Federal budgeting: government spending no more than government takes in.
Complete State of the Union Addresses from 1790 to 2006 | Various
“Budgeting always forces a last-minute compromise,” Fay shrugged.
The Creature from Cleveland Depths | Fritz Reuter Leiber

British Dictionary definitions for budget (1 of 2)

budget

/ (ˈbʌdʒɪt) /

noun

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

verb-gets, -geting or -geted

(tr) to enter or provide for in a budget
to plan the expenditure of (money, time, etc)

(intr) to make a budget

Origin of budget

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

Derived forms of budget

budgetary, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for Budget (2 of 2)

Budget

/ (ˈbʌdʒɪt) /

noun

the Budget 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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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