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Definitions

expense

[ik-spens] / ɪkˈspɛns /
NOUN
cost, payment
Synonyms
STRONGEST
amount budget charge consumption debt expenditure insurance investment liability loan loss mortgage obligation outlay payroll price price tag rate risk spending sum tariff value
STRONG
assessment bite debit decrement deprivation disbursement duty forfeit forfeiture outdo output overhead responsibility sacrifice surcharge toll upkeep worth
WEAK
bottom line out of pocket
Antonyms
STRONGEST
asset
STRONG
irresponsibility

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They avoid hospitals, often at the expense of their own family’s health.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

This applies to paying for housing, childcare, weddings — any large expense they offer to help cover.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

The fund, with an expense ratio of 0.09%, was widely considered groundbreaking as the first popular ETF when it hit the market in 1993.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

College is a shorter-term expense, and one his children could help shoulder.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

My stint at the university had left me feeling worn out, putting me in a far-from-perfect juggle while also straining our finances with the expense of child care.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.