reimburse

[ree-im-burs]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR reimburse ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), re·im·bursed, re·im·burs·ing.

to make repayment to for expense or loss incurred: The insurance company reimbursed him for his losses in the fire.

to pay back; refund; repay.

Nearby words

Origin of reimburse

1605–15; re- + obsolete imburse to put into a purse, pay < Medieval Latin imbursāre, equivalent to Latin im- im-¹ + Medieval Latin -bursāre, derivative of bursa purse, bag

SYNONYMS FOR reimburse

1. recompense, remunerate, indemnify, redress, recoup.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR reimburse ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

re·im·burs·a·ble, adjectivere·im·burse·ment, nounre·im·burs·er, nounnon·re·im·bursed, adjective

non·re·im·burse·ment, nounun·re·im·burs·a·ble, adjectiveun·re·im·bursed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for reimburse

He ordered his secretary to reimburse the fees and will issue a correction to his political funds reports.
‘Whip it!’ Japanese Prime Minister Abe’s Cabinet Of Horrors|Jake Adelstein|October 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Nelson told Politico that he has already returned $500,000 to the group—and said he may reimburse it for more.
Ben Nelson Reimburses DSCC|Caitlin Dickson|March 14, 2012|DAILY BEAST
She promised to increase taxes on poor people and said Iraq should reimburse the United States for the cost of “liberating” it.
Bachmann: The Comeback Kid|Michelle Goldberg|October 19, 2011|DAILY BEAST
CBS has agreed to reimburse the EPA for cleanup at Lemon Lane, the Bennett Stone Quarry, and Neal's Landfill.
Our Most Polluted States|The Daily Beast|May 19, 2010|DAILY BEAST

The full battery of tests to get a diagnosis costs about $2,000, which insurance companies often do not reimburse.
The Overmedicated Myth|Hannah Seligson|March 2, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Now he asked hopefully if he could reimburse the owners of the ship he'd captured off Walden.
The Pirates of Ersatz|Murray Leinster
It may be fairly asked, in what manner a person so situated is to reimburse himself?
A Treatise on the Police of the Metropolis|Patrick Colquhoun
The reporter was discharged, of course, but that did not repair the damage or reimburse the paper.
News Writing|M. Lyle Spencer
I'm going with you and I'll reimburse him for the four thousand, to let the check go through.
The Fifth Ace|Douglas Grant
And I must intreat you to send me either a note of their amount, or the bills, that I may be enabled to reimburse you.
Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson|Thomas Jefferson

British Dictionary definitions for reimburse

reimburse

verb

(tr) to repay or compensate (someone) for (money already spent, losses, damages, etc)your fare will be reimbursed after your interview

Derived Formsreimbursable, adjectivereimbursement, nounreimburser, noun

Word Origin for reimburse

C17: from re- + imburse, from Medieval Latin imbursāre to put in a moneybag, from bursa purse

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for reimburse

reimburse

1610s, from re- "back" + imburse "to pay, enrich," literally "put in a purse" (c.1530), from Middle French embourser, from Old French em- "in" + borser "to get money," from borse "purse," from Medieval Latin bursa (see purse (n.)). Related: Reimbursed; reimbursing.