expense
noun
ex·pense
| \ ik-ˈspen(t)s
\
\
Definition of expense
(Entry 1 of 2)
2a
: something expended to secure a benefit or bring about a result
b
: financial burden or outlay : cost
built the monument at their own expense
c
: an item of business outlay chargeable against revenue for a specific period
3
: a cause or occasion of expenditure
an estate is a great expense
4
: a loss, detriment, or embarrassment that results from some action or gain : sacrifice
everyone had a good laugh at my expense
—usually used in the phrase at the expense of develop a boy's physique at the expense of his intelligence— Bertrand Russell
expense
verb
expensed;
expensing
Definition of expense (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: to charge with expenses
2a
: to charge to an expense account
b
: to write off as an expense
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Synonyms for expense
Synonyms: Noun
charge, cost, disbursement, expenditure, outgo, outlay
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Examples of expense in a Sentence
Noun
I don't think a first-class ticket is worth the added expense. The annual fee is simply an expense of doing business. A new car is a major expense.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The union accuses British Airways is making big profits at the expense of workers who made sacrifices during hard times. — NBC News, "British Airways grounds nearly all flights as pilots strike," 9 Sep. 2019 And there’s the environmental and climate consequences of focusing on profit, often at the expense of planet. — Bruce Deboskey, The Denver Post, "On Philanthropy: In the eyes of business leaders, “social purpose” has replaced “shareholder capitalism”," 8 Sep. 2019 That’s all come at the expense of older Windows operating systems, which Microsoft is actively working to phase out. — Mark Hachman, PCWorld, "Microsoft did it: Windows 10 now powers over half of the world's PCs," 6 Sep. 2019 Esper's assertion that China is seeking to expand its influence at the expense of others has been a common U.S. government refrain for years, including during President Obama's administration. — CBS News, "Defense Secretary Mark Esper cautions allies against cozying up to China," 6 Sep. 2019 And, as a crucial step outsiders sometimes miss: If products sold domestically, to Brazilians, are found to have been made at the expense of the environment, then those sold abroad should also be rejected. — Felipe Araujo, The New Republic, "The Best Way to Fight Fires in the Amazon," 5 Sep. 2019 As its name implies, nickel uses five defensive backs, often at the expense of a third linebacker. — Matt Kawahara, SFChronicle.com, "Lamarcus Joyner slots into key role on Raiders’ 2019 defense," 5 Sep. 2019 President Trump is losing his trade war with China at the expense of the tech industry’s future. — Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, The Mercury News, "Editorial: Trump’s tariff war threatens future of innovation economy," 4 Sep. 2019 New security alliance Saudi Arabia’s increasing efforts to be the dominant Arab power in the Middle East are part of another trend in the region: the consolidation of states that focus on security at the expense of democratic rights. — David Mednicoff, The Conversation, "Why increasing Arab-Israeli closeness matters," 29 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Congressional investigators are looking into the C-17 stopover and other Defense Department expenses that might be helping Trump's Scotland resort. — Anchorage Daily News, "Politico: JBER crewman’s text message is evidence in investigation of military stopover at Trump resort," 7 Sep. 2019 Among the headline-grabbing details are allegations that its longtime CEO, Wayne LaPierre, expensed hundreds of thousands of dollars in wardrobe purchases from a Hollywood clothier and spent thousands traveling on private jets. — Washington Post, "Gun owners look beyond the NRA for representation," 1 Sep. 2019 Among the headline-grabbing details are allegations that its longtime CEO, Wayne LaPierre, expensed hundreds of thousands of dollars in wardrobe purchases from a Hollywood clothier and spent thousands traveling on private jets. — Lisa Marie Pane, BostonGlobe.com, "Gun owners find new outlets in the midst of a weakened NRA," 1 Sep. 2019 When Leroy left the U.S. armed forces, expenses the military had helped pay for — housing, utilities, clothing, food — began to rack up. — Staff Writer, USA TODAY, "How a financial pro can be a game changer for middle-income Americans," 18 June 2019 The bank is investigating any policy infraction, including expensing dinner ordered before the typical 6:30 p.m. cutoff but not doctoring receipts, some of the people familiar with the matter said. — Coulter Jones, WSJ, "Wells Fargo Fires Bankers Amid Probe of Dinner Receipts That Were Allegedly Doctored," 30 Aug. 2018 Now renovations are in the same category as home remodelings and must be expensed over 39 years. — Mark Escamilla, WSJ, "Congress, Fix This Tax-Reform Glitch," 16 Aug. 2018 These days, the mood at ConsenSys is bleak; it’s clear the freewheeling days of expensing $14,000 in two weeks or buying day-of Emirates business-class tickets are over, says a source. — Bijan Stephen, The Verge, "ConsenSys plans to spin out most of its startups, and it’s going to mean layoffs," 20 Dec. 2018 For the first time, Lyft has become one of the Top 10 most frequently expensed U.S. business costs this quarter, according to new data from online travel and expense software company Certify. — Rani Molla, Recode, "One way to track the rise of tech — check the expense reports," 25 Oct. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'expense.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for expense
expense
noun
English Language Learners Definition of expense
: the amount of money that is needed to pay for or buy something
: an amount of money that must be spent especially regularly to pay for something
: something on which money is spent
See the full definition for expense in the English Language Learners Dictionary
expense
noun
ex·pense
| \ ik-ˈspens
\
\
Kids Definition of expense
1
: something spent or required to be spent : cost
2
: a cause for spending
A car can be a great expense.
expense
noun
ex·