# disbursement

/dɪsˈbɝsmənt/ (US) · /dɪsbˈɜːsmənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/disbursement
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. the act of paying out

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Academic

the official act of paying out money from a fund or bank account.

For teachers: the act or process of distributing money from a central fund, typically following an official approval or administrative procedure.

- The disbursement of the student loans will happen at the start of the semester.
- The finance department delayed the disbursement of the grant funds until all the necessary compliance documents were signed and filed.

Usage: Often used in the singular to describe the administrative process.

Teaching tip: This is a high-register word. In everyday conversation, people usually just say 'payment' or 'paying out'.

### 2. money paid out

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

an amount of money that has been paid out, especially for a business or legal reason.

For teachers: a specific sum of money paid out or spent, often recorded as an expense in professional or legal accounting.

- The lawyer's bill included several disbursements for travel and court fees.
- The annual report lists all major disbursements made to international partners during the previous fiscal year.

Usage: Commonly used in the plural when referring to multiple specific expenses.

Teaching tip: In legal contexts, this specifically refers to costs the lawyer pays to third parties on behalf of the client.

## Examples

- The bank processed the disbursement of the loan today.
- The charity organized the disbursement of emergency funds to families affected by the storm within forty-eight hours.
- The audit revealed that the disbursement of public funds had been delayed due to a lack of proper documentation and internal verification.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.