ENGLISH
REFERENCE

reimburse

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌɹiɪmˈbɝs// UK //ɹˌiːɪmbˈɜːs// re·im·burse

v. to pay someone back for money they have already spent. You usually do this when an employee uses their own money for a work trip or a business meal.

v. to repay a person or entity for an expense or loss incurred. Transitive; typically requires a direct object representing the person being paid, often followed by a prepositional phrase detailing the expense.


SIMPLE

The company will reimburse you for your travel costs.

CONTEXTUAL

Please keep all your original receipts so the accounting department can reimburse your out-of-pocket expenses.

COMPLEX

Under the terms of the insurance policy, the provider is obligated to reimburse the homeowner for any structural repairs necessitated by the storm damage.

Synonyms
Origin

1591, re- (“back”) + imburse (“pay”, literally “put in a purse”) (perhaps after Middle French rembourser or Italian rimborsàre), from Middle French embourser, from Old French en- (“in”) + borser (“to get money”), from borse (“purse”), from Medieval Latin bursa (English purse).

Usage

The verb is transitive. It commonly takes the preposition 'for' to indicate the reason for payment ('reimburse someone for something').

Pitfall

The company will reimburse your taxi.The company will reimburse you for your taxi.Reimburse usually takes the person as the direct object, not the item purchased.

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