disbursement
AmericanUsage
What does disbursement mean? Disbursement is the act of paying out money, or the payment itself. Because the meaning of disbursement focuses on money and payment, the word is almost exclusively used in financial and business spheres—especially when the exchange of money is formal. Example: The disbursement of paychecks was delayed due to a clerical error, causing much grumbling among the staff.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of disbursement
From the Middle French word desboursement, dating back to 1590–1600. See disburse, -ment
Explanation
Disbursement means the payment of money from a fund or account. If the disbursement of paychecks at your job was delayed because your boss forgot to fill out some paperwork, you'd probably be furious. Disbursement is a noun that describes the spending or distributing of money. Governments manage the disbursement of funds to various departments and groups. The word disbursement comes from the Old French word desbourser, "extract money from a purse," with bourse meaning "purse." Don't confuse disbursement with dispersement, which means "separating or scattering."
Vocabulary lists containing disbursement
Richard Nixon's "Checkers" Speech (1952)
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List 10
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"Building Design and Construction Handbook," Vocabulary from Section 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
In January 2025, the OMB released a memo that ordered all federal agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance.”
From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026
"We are urging all partners, donors... to fast-track the disbursement of those resources."
From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026
After the appeal was rejected, Carroll’s lawyers asked the district court to order the immediate disbursement of $5 million in damages, and nearly $800,000 in interest that had accrued since the verdict.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
For example, a loan of $10,000 will have $422.80 deducted, resulting in a net disbursement of $9,577.20.
From MarketWatch ● May 15, 2026
It shall not receive moneys which are contributed upon terms which interfere in any way with its freedom of action as to their disbursement.
From Socialism and Democracy in Europe by Samuel P. Orth
Some hospitals that provide emergency medical services but not trauma care, including Catalina Island Health and MLK hospital, are pushing for the county to help them by providing recurring disbursements of Measure B funds.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
Outside of monetary policy, inflation impacts mortgage rates for homeowners, eligibility for school lunch subsidies, Social Security disbursements, and more.
From Slate ● Apr. 24, 2026
In some cases this will involve adjusting existing loan programs, including by accelerating disbursements or providing additional financing.
From Barron's ● Apr. 9, 2026
These provisions will mainly be taken in 2026, with disbursements from the plan scheduled for 2027.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 25, 2026
That we shall be paid each week our actual disbursements for labor and material.
From The Story of the Atlantic Telegraph by Henry M. (Henry Martyn) Field
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.
