noun
-
something expended, such as time or money
-
the act of expending
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of expenditure
1760–70; < Medieval Latin expendit ( us ) laid out, paid (variant of expēnsus, past participle of expendere; see expend) + -ure
Explanation
In a trip budget, you need to add up all your expenditures, such as hotel, car rental and food costs against the money you have brought to spend. An expenditure is money spent on something. Expenditure is often used when people are talking about budgets. It is the government's job to decide what to do with tax money collected, or in other words, to determine the expenditure of public funds. The word is more than a long way of saying expense. In business, an expenditure implies an investment, something that will bring value over time.
Vocabulary lists containing expenditure
100 SAT Words Beginning with "E"
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Theodore Roosevelt on "New Nationalism" (1910)
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Economics
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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.
Outside of campaign committees, Sokoloff’s mother, Sheryl, has contributed $5 million to her son’s campaign as an independent expenditure since May 7.
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026
The six-to-12 month outlook for financial markets is deteriorating as inventories fall, inflation risks rise and higher capital costs become more relevant for the AI capital expenditure boom.
From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026
Other countries, notably America’s European allies and Canada, boosted their military spending by more than 20% in 2025 and pledged to scale up military and security-related expenditure to 5% of GDP by 2035.
From Barron's • May 22, 2026
Non-expansion capital expenditure is expected to step up by about A$300 million in terminal infrastructure charge year 2027-28, the bank says.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026
Through sheer, savage will, Minya poured even her life force into the colossal expenditure of magic necessary to hold on to her ghosts and keep her charges safe—and not just safe but loved.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
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.
