Word

expenditure

noun C1

UK /ɛkˈspɛndɪt͡ʃə/

US /ɛkˈspɛndɪt͡ʃɚ/

Meanings

noun

the act of spending money

noun

the total amount of money spent, especially by an organization or government

Definition

Expenditure is the act of spending money, or the amount of money that is spent.

Expenditure refers to money that is spent by a person, organization, or government. It can describe either the act of spending or the total amount spent over a period of time. In reports and budgets, it is often compared with income or revenue to show whether spending is under control.

Examples

The committee approved the expenditure only after the project scope had been revised.
I tracked my monthly expenditure and realized subscriptions were quietly adding up.
She questioned the department’s expenditure on travel when remote meetings were clearly workable.
They reduced expenditure during the downturn without cutting essential services.
Your expenditure will stay predictable if you set limits before you start shopping.

Common mistake

Learners often confuse expenditure (money spent) with expense (a specific cost item), but expenditure commonly refers to overall spending or the act of spending.