# reimbursement

/ˌɹiɪmˈbɝsmənt/ (US) · /ɹˌiːɪmbˈɜːsmənt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/reimbursement
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

the act of paying someone back for money they have already spent. You usually get this from your company after you pay for things like travel or meals for work.

For teachers: the repayment of funds previously expended by an individual on behalf of an organization or for a specific purpose. Often involves a formal process of submitting receipts for verification.

## Examples

- I am waiting for my travel reimbursement from the office.
- The company policy requires employees to submit all receipts within thirty days to qualify for full reimbursement.
- The finance department streamlined the reimbursement process to ensure that consultants are compensated for out-of-pocket expenses within one business week.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I asked for a refund for my business trip." but "I asked for a reimbursement for my business trip." — A 'refund' is money returned by a seller to a customer; 'reimbursement' is money returned by an employer to an employee for expenses.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the general act of paying back; countable when referring to specific payments or instances.

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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.