expense account

American  

noun

1. an account of business expenditures, as travel, hotel room, meals, and entertainment connected with work, for which an employee will be reimbursed by an employer.

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expense account British  

noun

1. an arrangement by which expenses incurred in the course of a person's work are refunded by his employer or deducted from his income for tax purposes

2. a record of such expenses

3. informal  (modifier) paid for by an employer or by money allowable against tax

   an expense-account lunch

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expense account Cultural  

1. An account or list of expenses incurred in doing business outside the office, part of which is a tax deduction. The term often applies to lunches or dinners at which business deals are made and clients entertained.

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Etymology

Origin of expense account

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

My expense account having its limits, I visited each place once.

From Seattle Times

She wrote plenty about both those places too, but Morris was no stranger to an expense account.

From New York Times

They have something else going for them: a lower price that experts say is more easily submitted on an expense account.

From Washington Post

Executive Class expense accounts also subsidize Executive Class lifestyles.

From Salon

Lawmakers can also use their regular office expense accounts to buy bulletproof vests and other security equipment and Capitol Police have been increasing coordination with local law enforcement agencies.

From Reuters