out-of-pocket

[out-uhv-pok-it]

adjective

1. paid out in cash or from one's own financial resources and sometimes reimbursed.

   My out-of-pocket travel expenses included taking business clients to dinner.

2. without funds or assets.

   an out-of-pocket student who stayed with us.

out of pocket

adjective

1. (postpositive) having lost money, as in a commercial enterprise

2. without money to spend

3. (prenominal) (of expenses) unbudgeted and paid for in cash

Word History and Origins

Origin of out of pocket¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Idioms and Phrases

Lacking money; also, having suffered a financial loss, as in We can't go; I'm out of pocket right now . William Congreve had it in The Old Bachelor (1693): “But egad, I'm a little out of pocket at present.” [Late 1600s]

Referring to actual money spent, as in I had to pay the hotel bill out of pocket, but I know I'll be reimbursed . This expression sometimes occurs as a hyphenated adjective mainly in the phrase out-of-pocket expenses , as in My out-of-pocket expenses for business travel amounted to more than a thousand dollars . [Late 1800s]

Example Sentences

A subscription to the Proloquo speech app alone would cost $300 a year out-of-pocket — more than she can afford on her shoestring budget.

From Los Angeles Times

Two years later, in 2029, Medicaid beneficiaries will face higher out-of-pocket costs.

From Salon

Previous talks, held ahead of July's five-day strike, the 12th since March 2023, had centred on career progression, working conditions - such as rotas, and out-of-pocket expenses like exam fees.

From BBC

Alongside covering the cost of out-of-pocket expenses like exam fees and making the system of rotas and rotations less brutal, he has other suggestions.

From BBC

"These measures lower out-of-pocket costs for families and indirectly benefit parks through higher footfall," said Ms Nandini.

From BBC

Related Words

• amount 
• budget 
• charge 
• consumption 
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• expenditure 
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• price tag 
• rate 
• risk 
• spending www.thesaurus.com