expense
n. · v.-
1 money spent (n.) B1 Intermediatethe money that you spend on something or the cost of an activity.
the cost required for something; the act of spending or disbursing money.
ExampleThe expense of repairing the car was much higher than we expected.
ExampleThe total expense of the renovation project exceeded the initial budget by nearly twenty percent due to unforeseen structural issues.
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2 work-related costs (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatemoney you spend while doing your job that your employer pays back to you.
costs incurred in the course of performing professional duties, typically reimbursed by an employer.
ExampleYou can claim your travel expenses if you keep all your receipts.
ExampleThe sales team submitted their monthly expenses for approval, including client dinners and regional train fares.
UsageOften used in the plural form 'expenses'.
- business costs
- reimbursements
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3 at the cost of something else (n.) C1 Advanced Formalthe loss or sacrifice of one thing to achieve another.
the sacrifice, loss, or detriment of one thing in order to benefit or achieve another.
ExampleHe built a successful company, but it was at the expense of his health.
ExampleThe rapid industrial growth was achieved at the expense of the local ecosystem, leading to long-term environmental degradation.
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4 to record as a business cost (v.) C1 Advanced Technical Computingto list a cost as a business spending so you do not have to pay for it yourself.
to write off an expenditure as a business expense or to charge a cost against an expense account.
ExampleI will expense this flight to the marketing department.
ExampleThe consultant was instructed to expense all local transport costs directly to the client's account rather than paying out of pocket.
UsageThe verb is transitive and requires a direct object.
From Middle English expense, from Anglo-Norman expense and Old French espense, from Late Latin expēnsa, from Latin expendō. See expend. Doublet of speso.