expense

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. 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 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. 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 IDIOMS at sb's expense 1 paid for by sb: We were taken out for a meal at the company's expense. 2 if you make a joke at sb's expense, you laugh at them and make them feel silly at the expense of sb/sth with loss or damage to sb/sth: He built up the business at the expense of his health. * an education system that benefits bright children at the expense of those who are slower to learn go to the expense of sth / of doing sth