English Reference
noun

expenditure

n.
US /ɪkˈspɛndətʃɝ/ UK /ɛkspˈɛndɪtʃɐ/ ex·pen·di·ture UK spelling expenditure's, expenditure's

  1. 01 C1 Advanced AcademicFormal

    the act of using or spending energy, time, or money.

    the process or act of expending a resource, such as capital, effort, or energy. In this sense, it is typically uncountable.

    Simple

    This job requires a huge expenditure of time and energy.

    In context

    Biological processes often involve the rapid expenditure of energy to maintain cellular stability under environmental stress.

    Usage

    Frequently appears in the phrase 'expenditure of' followed by a resource like 'effort', 'energy', or 'resources'.

Usage capital expenditure · expenditure everyday · expenditure extensive

It may reduce energy expenditure, improve walking efficiency and thereby provide a significant advantage during long-distance travel on foot.

Phys.org· 17 Aug 2026

With 50-60 billion Moroccan dirhams (£4bn-£4.8bn) budgeted for direct football investments, and further expenditure for infrastructure upgrades totalling a reported £17bn, the task is herculean.

The Guardian· 22 Jul 2026

From stem of Medieval Latin expenditus, irregular perfect passive participle of expendō (“I weigh, I pay out”), + -ure (“process or result”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin la-med expenditus
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated