reimbursement

American  

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

noun

• reimbursements
  plural

1. repayment for an expense or loss incurred.

   Visitors will receive reimbursement for travel and housing expenses.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonreimbursement
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• reimbursements
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of reimbursement

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

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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

See Examples For:

reimbursement reimbursements

But the White House later told AFP that the post "was not referring to reimbursement."

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

The BBC has contacted the White House for comment on what reimbursement the US is providing Russia in return for the release of diesel.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

The Journal used DHS’s published funding formula to calculate eligible reimbursement amounts; 14 agencies in five states confirmed those findings.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

The inspector general recommended the high-speed rail authority update its travel policy to get advance written approval for trips, clarify expectations with staff and seek reimbursement for “unallowable expenses paid” from the consulting firms.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026

In hospitals in which the reimbursement rates for appendectomies ran higher, for instance, the surgeons removed more appendixes.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

It is hoping to save 5.1 billion euros in the health sector, including through a reduction in reimbursements.

From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026

In addition to grappling with the loss of state money for Flock cameras, some local officials face a financial hit because vehicle authority grants are given as reimbursements.

From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026

Escalante, who lives in Bakersfield, said she also has to drive her client to the grocery store, and that mileage reimbursements are not enough to cover her costs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026

Walker said he received the refund but didn’t take Aman up on the other reimbursements.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

Though he still chased bandits on horseback, the work was generally less dangerous; in many cases, it involved unmasking individuals who had filed false claims for reimbursements.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

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Related Words

• payment
• remuneration
• repayment
• restitution

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