disburse
diss-BURSS
/dɪsˈbɜːs/
To pay out money from a formal fund, treasury, or institutional account.
Focuses on the administrative or procedural release of funds from a official holding account.
The story behind the word. Derived from Old French 'desbourser', combining 'des-' (out) and 'bourse' (purse). Literally, it means to pull money out of the administrative purse.
Word relationships
- payout: 'Payout' is informal or commercial, whereas 'disburse' is formal, institutional, and administrative.
- withhold: 'Withhold' means keeping funds back, while 'disburse' means official distribution.
Commonly confused with
- disperse: 'Disperse' means to scatter things or people in different directions; 'disburse' specifically means to pay out money.
Word family
- disbursement (noun): The act of paying out money from a fund, or the amount paid.
Collocations
- disburse funds
- disburse loans
- disburse payments
- disburse financial aid
Example sentences
- "The financial aid office will disburse financial aid awards directly to student accounts ten days prior to classes starting." Financial Aid Administration
- "Research funds are disbursed in installments contingent upon the principal investigator completing progress reports." Grant Management
Memory hook
DISBURSE means taking money OUT of the BURSE (purse). Don't confuse DISBURSE (money) with DISPERSE (crowd). Disburse opens the purse to distribute money.
When not to use
Do not use 'disburse' for informal, casual everyday purchases made from individual wallets.
Fun facts
- Financial aid disbursement dates are critical milestones in college calendars; if a student drops out before funds disburse, the money returns to the government.
Related words
Explore more words
discretionary, expenditure, reimbursement, expense, disseminate, teller
Also appears in
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