Reading Theme:
Expense Definition, Usage, and Key Examples (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：cost or outlay (expense)
expense
/ɪkˈspens/
n.
The money you spend on something, or the act of spending it.
cost or outlay
➕
/kɒst ɔːr ˈaʊtleɪ/
n.
Refers to the amount of money spent or required to be spent for a specific purpose or item.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'expendere' (to weigh out, pay), from 'ex-' (out) + 'pendere' (to weigh).
💡 Mnemonic
Think of EXiting your wallet with PENnies and SEnsibly spending them. EX-PEN-SE.
📖 Example
The company needs to calculate whether the expense of opening a new office is worth the potential benefit.
The company needs to assess if the cost of establishing a new branch justifies the expected advantages.
🔗 Collocations
at the expense of – causing harm or loss to something else as a result
living expense – the cost of basic necessities like food, housing, and transportation
spare no expense – to spend as much money as necessary to achieve something
🔄 Synonyms
cost (n.) – The amount that must be paid or spent to buy or obtain something.
outlay (n.) – An amount of money spent on something, especially a significant sum.
expenditure (n.) – The action of spending funds; an amount of money spent.
🚫 Antonyms
🌱 Derivatives
expensive (adj.) – Costing a lot of money.
expenditure (n.) – The action of spending funds; an amount of money spent.
expensively (adv.) – In a costly manner.
📖 Cultural Story
The word evolved from Latin 'expensa' (things paid out) into Middle English. It is central to business and personal finance, frequently appearing in accounting contexts (e.g., expense reports) and tax regulations, reflecting its enduring role in quantifying financial outlay.
Meaning 2：specific cost item (expense)
expense
/ɪkˈspens/
n.
A specific item or category that you spend money on.
specific cost item
➕
/spəˈsɪfɪk kɒst ˈaɪtəm/
n.
A particular instance of spending money, often recorded and categorized, such as a bill or a charge.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
Travel and accommodation are the main expenses covered by the company for this business trip.
Transportation and lodging are the primary cost items reimbursed by the firm for this work trip.
🔗 Collocations
business expense – a cost incurred in the course of conducting business operations
operating expense – a day-to-day cost of running a business
medical expense – costs incurred for the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease
🔄 Synonyms
charge (n.) – A price asked for goods or services.
disbursement (n.) – A payment, especially from a fund.
bill (n.) – A printed or written statement of the money owed for goods or services.
🚫 Antonyms
reimbursement (n.) – The act of repaying money spent or lost.
credit (n.) – An entry recording a sum received, listed on the right-hand side or column of an account.
🌱 Derivatives
expense account (n.) – An arrangement whereby an employee is repaid for money spent for business purposes.
Wordbook
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