expense

Pronunciation key ( ik-spens′ )

ex•pense

n.

[ME.; Anglo-Fr. expense; LL. expensa (pecunia), paid out money; L. expensum; neut. of expensus, fem. pp. of expendere, to expend].

1. Paying out of money, expending.
2. Plural form. cost; fee; charge.
3. Plural. Expenses. Monetary charges which are incurred while carrying out a task, accomplishing a goal or purpose. Monetary charges which are incurred while performing one's duties, in employment, work, etc. Informal. Money paid out for these charges.
4. Cause or causes of spending; drain on finances such as, "A new home can be a considerable expense."
5. Loss. Sacrifice. Something that requires an expenditure of money.

at the expense of

1. With the payment borne by.
2. With the loss of.

Abbreviated. exp.

References

Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language (College Edition) ©1955

The American Heritage Dictionary, Second College Edition ©1985

Further Reading

expend

expendable

expenditure

expensive