Expense

Definition

Expense is the cost incurred or required for something, often referring to money spent in exchange for goods or services. It can also refer to an outflow of money to settle liabilities or fund operations.

Parts of Speech

• Noun
• Verb

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ɪkˈspɛns/
• Respelling: ik-SPENS

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ɪkˈspɛns/
• Respelling: ik-SPENS

Etymology

The word "expense" originates from the Latin word "expensa," which means "outlay" or "something weighed out," stemming from "expendere," meaning "to weigh out" or "pay out." The term entered Middle English from Old French, retaining its sense related to financial outlays.

Derivatives

• Expensive (adjective)
• Expensiveness (noun)
• Expending (verb)
• Expenditure (noun)
• Expenses (plural noun)

Synonyms

• Cost
• Charge
• Outlay

Antonyms

• Income
• Revenue
• Profit

Usage

The term "expense" is commonly used in financial, personal, and business contexts to denote the costs associated with purchasing goods, services, or conducting activities. For instance, "The company minimized its operational expenses to increase profit margins."

Related Terms

• Expenditure: The total amount of money spent on a specific purpose or activity.
• Budget: A plan for managing income and expenses over a certain period.
• Liability: Financial obligations or debts owed by a person or business.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• The cost or money required for something: Typically refers to the monetary amount spent on an item, service, or activity.
  • Example: "The travel expenses for the business trip were higher than anticipated."
• An amount spent to settle liabilities or fund operations: Often used in accounting to indicate outflows of money for operational costs.
  • Example: "Advertising is a necessary expense for growing the brand."

Verb

• To charge or account as an expenditure: Used when recording or attributing costs to a specific account or purpose.
  • Example: "The equipment was expensed to the marketing budget."