expense
ik-SPENS
/ɪkˈspɛns/
The cost required for something; the money spent on something.
Can refer to a single cost or the total costs incurred over a period.
The story behind the word. Our word 'expense' traces its roots back to the Latin verb 'expendere,' which meant 'to weigh out' or 'to pay out.' In ancient times, money was often weighed, not counted, so 'expendere' literally meant to dispense the correct weight of coins. This perfectly illustrates the idea of money leaving your hands.
Word relationships
- cost: Often interchangeable, but 'expense' can imply a regular or necessary outlay, while 'cost' can be a one-time price.
- outlay: Emphasizes the act of spending, often a large sum.
- income: Money received, the direct opposite of money spent.
- revenue: Total income generated by a business before expenses.
Commonly confused with
- debt: An 'expense' is money spent; 'debt' is money owed, which might arise from an expense not yet paid.
Word family
- expensive (adjective): Costing a lot of money.
- expend (verb): To spend or use up (resources).
Collocations
- living expenses
- operating expenses
- unexpected expense
- cut expenses
- incur an expense
- business expense
Idioms & expressions
- at someone's expense (paid for by someone else, or to someone's detriment)
Example sentences
- "Rent is our biggest monthly expense, followed closely by groceries." Household spending.
- "Travel expenses for the sales team are carefully monitored to stay within budget." Business accounting.
- "The unexpected car repair was a major expense that dipped into their emergency fund." A significant cost.
Memory hook
It's the money that 'exits' your wallet or bank account. Money exits
When not to use
Do not use 'expense' to mean 'money' generally; it specifically refers to money spent or owed.
Fun facts
- In accounting, expenses are categorized (e.g., fixed, variable, operating) to provide a clearer picture of where money is going.
Related words
Explore more words
expenditure, Cost, splurge, overhead, extravagance, reimbursement
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