# outlay

/ˈaʊtˌɫeɪ/ (US) · /ˈaʊtleɪ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/outlay
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

the total amount of money you spend on something. It is often used when talking about a large expense, like buying a house or starting a business.

For teachers: the total sum of money spent on a particular project or venture. Often used in financial or business contexts to describe initial capital expenditure.

## Examples

- The initial outlay for the new factory was very high.
- The company managed to recoup its initial outlay within six months of launching the new product line.
- While the initial outlay for renewable energy infrastructure remains significant, the long-term savings on fuel costs often justify the investment for large-scale industrial operations.

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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.