Breakdown of Your Expenses: Definition and Examples

Meaning 1：expense breakdown (breakdown of your expenses)

breakdown of your expenses 🔊

/ˈbreɪkdaʊn əv jɔːr ɪkˈspɛnsɪz/

A detailed list that shows how your money is spent, divided into categories like food, rent, and entertainment.

Pie chart showing breakdown of expenses with food, transport, and savings categories

expense breakdown 🔊

➕

/ɪkˈspɛns ˈbreɪkdaʊn/

A detailed itemized list that divides total spending into specific categories such as food, rent, and entertainment.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

break (to separate) + down (into smaller parts) → itemized list of expenses

💡 Mnemonic

Picture a piggy bank smashed into pieces, each piece labeled with an expense category.

📖 Example

To save for a vacation, Sarah made a breakdown of her expenses to see where she could cut costs. 🔊 To save for a vacation, Sarah made a breakdown of her expenses to see where she could cut costs.

🔗 Collocations

provide a breakdown – to give a detailed list of expenses

detailed breakdown – a thorough itemized list

cost breakdown – a division of costs by category

🔄 Synonyms

itemized list (n.) – A list that shows each item separately and in detail.

expense report (n.) – A formal document detailing expenditures.

budget analysis (n.) – A review of income and spending with categories.

🚫 Antonyms

lump sum (n.) – A single payment or total amount without details.

total (n.) – The entire amount without breakdown.

🌱 Derivatives

break down (v.) – to separate into parts or stop functioning

breakable (adj.) – able to be broken

📖 Cultural Story

The term 'breakdown' originated in the 19th century from the phrasal verb 'break down,' meaning to separate into components. It became common in financial contexts during the rise of modern budgeting.