expenditure
noun
ex·pen·di·ture
ik-ˈspen-di-chər 
-də-ˌchu̇r,
-də-ˌt(y)u̇r
1
: the act or process of expending
an expenditure of energy
2
: something expended : disbursement, expense
income should exceed expenditures
Examples of expenditure in a Sentence
an increase in military expenditures
an increase in military expenditure
vast expenditures of time and effort
The energy expenditure was significant.
the expenditure of funds for the new school
The project will require an expenditure of effort on everyone's part.
Recent Examples on the Web
Higher refining costs could squeeze profit margins for U.S. refiners, potentially leading to lower capital expenditures, delayed maintenance schedules, and even job reductions in refinery-dependent regions.
—
Robert Rapier, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Getting to that advanced level requires a lot of very expensive investment and R&D.
SMIC spent about $7.5 billion in 2024 on capital expenditure, roughly the same level as the year before, and about as much as the chipmaker expects to spend this year.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune Asia, 4 Mar. 2025
The personal consumption expenditures prices paid index, which is the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure, increased 0.3% for the month and 2.5% on an annual basis in January.
—Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025
Consumer spending was expected to drop off in January: There’s typically a post-holiday expenditure hangover to start the year; plus, last month’s retail sales data came in far below forecasts.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expenditure
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Robert Rapier, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Getting to that advanced level requires a lot of very expensive investment and R&D.
SMIC spent about $7.5 billion in 2024 on capital expenditure, roughly the same level as the year before, and about as much as the chipmaker expects to spend this year.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune Asia, 4 Mar. 2025
The personal consumption expenditures prices paid index, which is the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure, increased 0.3% for the month and 2.5% on an annual basis in January.
—Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025
Consumer spending was expected to drop off in January: There’s typically a post-holiday expenditure hangover to start the year; plus, last month’s retail sales data came in far below forecasts.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expenditure
Cite this Entry
“Expenditure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expenditure. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
expenditure
noun
ex·pen·di·ture
ik-ˈspen-di-chər
-də-ˌchu̇(ə)r
1
: the act of spending (as money, time, or energy)
2
: something that is spent
Legal Definition
expenditure
noun
ex·pen·di·ture
ik-ˈspen-di-chər, -ˌchu̇r
1
: the act or process of paying out
2
: something paid out see also capital expenditure
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