disburse
dis-BURS
/dɪsˈbɜːrs/
To pay out (money from a fund).
Typically used in formal or business contexts, implying a structured or official payment from a designated fund or account. It's not about casual spending.
The story behind the word. The word 'disburse' has a wonderfully clear origin! It comes from the Old French 'desbourser,' which literally meant 'to take out of a purse.' 'Des-' meant 'out of' and 'bourse' meant 'purse' (which is why stock exchanges are sometimes called 'bourses'!). So, when you disburse money, you are quite literally taking it out of the official 'purse' or fund to pay it out.
Word relationships
- pay out: A more general and less formal term for giving money from a fund.
- expend: To spend or use up (resources such as money or energy).
- allocate: To distribute (resources or duties) for a particular purpose.
- collect: To gather or accumulate money.
- receive: To be given, presented with, or paid (something).
Commonly confused with
- spend: 'Spend' is a general term; 'disburse' is specific to paying out from a fund, often formally.
Word family
- disbursement (noun): The act of paying out money; a payment.
Collocations
- disburse funds
- disburse payments
- disburse grants
- disburse aid
Example sentences
- "The government agency will disburse funds to eligible flood victims next week." Describing a government payment.
- "The treasurer was authorized to disburse payments for all approved vendor invoices." In a business financial report.
Memory hook
To 'DISBURSE' funds, you must 'DIS' (take out) from the 'PURSE'. Out of purse
When not to use
Do not use 'disburse' for personal, casual spending (e.g., 'I disbursed money for coffee'). It is reserved for formal, often institutional, payments.
Fun facts
- The word 'bourse' for a stock exchange comes from the same root, referring to the place where money is handled.
Related words
Explore more words
discretionary, expenditure, reimbursement, expense, disseminate, teller
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