expenditure

Universal Words noun [U,C] 1 the act of spending or using money; an amount of money spent: a reduction in public / government / military expenditure * plans to increase expenditure on health and education * The budget provided for a total expenditure of ｣27 billion. * Savings have been disposed of in order to meet the growing gap between income and expenditure. 2 the use of energy, time, materials, etc: the expenditure of emotion * This study represents a major expenditure of time and effort. compareINCOME