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

Under EU rules, this will allow airlines to avoid paying financial compensation to passengers, though they will still be entitled to reimbursement or an alternative flight.

From BBC • May 3, 2026

That amount forms the basis of how much money the city is eligible for, and then it can submit expenses for reimbursement after the event.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2026

They say that overburdened European health systems and reimbursement cuts in China add to the pressure on sales.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

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

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