/ ɪkˈspens; NAmE / noun
1.
[ U ] the money that you spend on sth :
The garden was transformed at great expense .
No expense was spared (= they spent as much money as was needed) to make the party a success.
He's arranged everything, no expense spared .
She always travels first-class regardless of expense.
The results are well worth the expense.
➡ note at price
2.
[ C , usually sing. ] something that makes you spend money :
Running a car is a big expense.
3.
expenses [ pl. ] money spent in doing a particular job, or for a particular purpose :
living / household / medical / legal, etc. expenses
Can I give you something towards expenses?
financial help to meet the expenses of an emergency
The payments he gets barely cover his expenses.
➡ note at costs
4.
expenses [ pl. ] money that you spend while you are working that your employer will pay back to you later :
You can claim back your travelling / travel expenses.
( BrE )
to take a client out for a meal on expenses
an all-expenses-paid trip
➡ note at costs
•
IDIOMS
- at sb's expense
- at the expense of sb/sth
- go to the expense of sth / of doing sth | go to a lot of, etc. expense
- put sb to the expense of sth / of doing sth | put sb to a lot of, etc. expense
—more at object noun
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Anglo-Norman French , alteration of Old French espense , from late Latin expensa (pecunia) (money) spent, from Latin expendere pay out, from ex- out + pendere weigh, pay.