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Added 9 October 2026

expense

/ɪkˈspɛns/ noun

In Latin: sūmptus Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about expense at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Amounts paid for goods and services that may be currently tax deductible (as opposed to capital expenditures).
A detriment or sacrifice.
at the expense of
Money spent to perform work and usually reimbursed by an employer.
he kept a careful record of his expenses at the meeting

verb

Reduce the estimated value of something.
For tax purposes you can write off the laser printer

Origin

From Middle English expense, from Anglo-Norman expense and Old French espense, from Late Latin expēnsa, from Latin expendō. See expend. Doublet of speso.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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