expense
An expense is the money that you spend on something or the cost of doing a job. In business, it refers to the money a company pays for things like rent, salaries, and bills to keep operating.
Examples
3 of 5Food is my biggest monthly expense.
Food is the main thing I spend money on every month.
The corporation must document every business expense for tax purposes.
The company needs to record all money spent for official records.
That new laptop was a huge expense I didn't plan for.
That computer cost a lot of money unexpectedly.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of the 'EX' in 'EXpense' like an 'EXIT'. Money is EXITing your wallet.
Quick Quiz
The repair of the car was an unexpected ______ for the family.
Correct!
The correct answer is: expense
Examples
Food is my biggest monthly expense.
everydayFood is the main thing I spend money on every month.
The corporation must document every business expense for tax purposes.
formalThe company needs to record all money spent for official records.
That new laptop was a huge expense I didn't plan for.
informalThat computer cost a lot of money unexpectedly.
The high expense of materials limits the scope of this scientific study.
academicThe large cost of items restricts what this study can do.
We need to cut our travel expense to stay within the budget.
businessWe must reduce the money spent on trips to save money.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
at your own expense
paying for something yourself
spare no expense
spend as much money as needed to make something perfect
operating expenses
costs of running a business daily
Often Confused With
Price is the specific amount of money a single item costs; expense is the general act of spending or the total cost of an activity.
Usage Notes
Use the plural 'expenses' when talking about specific categories of spending in business or travel, such as 'travel expenses'. Use the singular 'expense' when talking about the general concept of cost.
Common Mistakes
Learners often say 'make an expense' when they should say 'have an expense' or 'it is an expense'.
Memory Tip
Think of the 'EX' in 'EXpense' like an 'EXIT'. Money is EXITing your wallet.
Word Origin
From the Latin word 'expensa', which means 'money weighed out' or 'money spent'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many Western business cultures, employees must keep 'receipts' to be paid back for their business expenses.
Quick Quiz
The repair of the car was an unexpected ______ for the family.
Correct!
The correct answer is: expense
Related Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
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