reimbursement

American  

[ree-im-burs-muhnt] / ˌri ɪmˈbɜrs mənt /

noun

1. repayment for an expense or loss incurred.

   Visitors will receive reimbursement for travel and housing expenses.

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Other Word Forms

• nonreimbursement noun

Etymology

Origin of reimbursement

reimburse ( def. ) + -ment ( def. )

Explanation

A reimbursement is a repayment for money you've already spent. When you travel for work, you get a reimbursement for your work-related expenses, like hotel bills and plane tickets, but you'll have to pay for that trip to the circus yourself. Reimbursement comes from the Latin root words re, meaning again; in, meaning into; and bursa, meaning purse. So the word reimbursement literally means in a purse again. After your parents' basement flooded, they paid to repair the damage and then got a reimbursement from the insurance company, so that they could put the money they spent in their purse again.

Example Sentences

Even if you don’t have frequent-flier status, negotiating some sort of reimbursement is still worth it, Maharishi said, as it’s in an airline’s best interest to appease disgruntled customers.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

Health insurers rallied on an improved Medicare Advantage reimbursement rate.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

The reimbursement rate for a comprehensive eye exam is about $47, said Kristine Shultz, association executive director.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

China has moved well beyond rhetoric: childbirth is now effectively free under the insurance system, and reimbursement for assisted reproductive services has been expanding rapidly.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

The reimbursement check that arrived at his door offered him a painless way out of his automobile venture.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

Related Words

• payment
• remuneration
• repayment
• restitution