defray

[dih-frey]

verb (used with object)

1. to bear or pay all or part of (the costs, expenses, etc.).

   The grant helped defray the expenses of the trip.

defray

/ dɪˈfreɪ /

verb

1. (tr) to furnish or provide money for (costs, expenses, etc); pay

Other Word Forms

• defrayable adjective
• defrayer noun
• predefray verb (used with object)
• undefrayed adjective
• defrayal noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of defray¹

1535–45; < Middle French défrayer, Old French deffroier to pay costs, equivalent to de- dis- ¹ + frayer to bear the costs, derivative of frais, fres (plural) costs, probably < Latin frācta things broken ( fracture ), hence, expense incurred from breakage

Word History and Origins

Origin of defray¹

C16: from Old French deffroier to pay expenses, from de- _dis- ¹ + frai expenditure, originally: cost incurred through breaking something, from Latin frangere to break

Example Sentences

That windfall would help defray the soaring expenses of college sports, which now include up to $20.5 million a year for athletes along with the sky-high salaries schools already pay coaches.

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For example, you don’t need to make a ton of friends to defray those long-term healthcare costs, said Jeffrey Hall, a communication-studies professor at the University of Kansas.

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Democrats want to continue enhanced federal subsidies that defray health-insurance bills for most ACA enrollees, few of whom pay the full premiums for their plans.

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To defray the rising tab for health insurance, many employers push more of the burden onto workers.

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Patients will generally be responsible for paying, though Livingston said companies, philanthropic groups or newly raised tax funds from experimental clinics could defray costs.

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