Expenses
/ɪkˈspɛnsɪz/
Definitions
The cost required for something; the money spent on something.
/ɪkˈspɛnsɪz/
Money spent or required for something.
The company is trying to cut down on its expenses.
💡 Simply: Think of expenses like the money you need to pay for things. Like, the expense of buying a new video game, or the expenses of groceries. It's money you're spending!
👶 For kids: Money you spend to buy things or do things.
More Examples
Travel expenses can be quite high.
We need to keep track of all our expenses.
How It's Used
"Businesses must carefully track their expenses."
"I need to budget my expenses for the month."
Idioms & expressions
at the expense of
With the loss or disadvantage of something or someone else.
"He advanced his career at the expense of his family life."
expense account
An account used by a business to record the expenses of employees, often for travel, meals, and entertainment.
"The sales rep submitted his expense account for reimbursement."
From Middle English *expens*, from Old French *espense* (plural *espenses*), from Latin *expensa* (plural of *expensum* 'expense'), past participle of *expendere* 'to weigh out, pay out'.
The term 'expenses' has been used since the 16th century and initially referred to the act of expending or spending, evolving to encompass the money spent.
Memory tip
Think of 'spending' as the main idea. The money is being 'expended'.