defray

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "defray" is correct and can be used in written English.
Generally, it means to pay or provide for (the cost of something). Example sentence: The company defrayed the cost of the employee's lunch.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Police and soldiers had to hold back the rush at a local office of the ruling party as voters clamoured for handouts of hundreds of dollars, ostensibly to help defray housing costs.Yet the voters could not be bought.

The Economist

The "back-hauling" of goods to South Africa fish from Mozambique or strawberries from Zimbabwe helps to defray the cost of moving stuff the other way, says Dallas Langman, an executive at Pick n Pay.

The Economist

Under his scheme, families would receive $5,000 to defray the cost of their health insurance.

The Economist

In an especially notorious punitive expedition against Benin (in modern-day Nigeria) in 1897, the British not only plundered the kingdom's treasures but sold them to foreign collectors to defray their operational expenses (ie, the oppressed were required to finance the cost of their oppression).

The Economist

In California, legislation to levy a surcharge on computer sales to defray recycling costs took effect this month.

The Economist

Mr Duda has tried to defray such anxieties, but he must also play to the more nationalist voices in the PiS.

The Economist

Jaguar has sucked up money to build large saloon cars, such as the XF and XJ, but in volumes too small to defray hefty fixed costs.

The Economist

Unlike Mr Obama, he will not force insurers to accept everyone, but he will offer federal funding for state-run "high-risk pools" which (he claims) will defray the cost of covering the sickest.Will it work?

The Economist

It requires utilities to set aside a tenth of a cent for each kilowatt-hour of nuclear power they generate to help defray the costs of transporting nuclear waste to a safe repository and storing it there permanently.

The Economist

Scale is needed to defray the distribution costs: a brewer has to be able to deliver a low-value but bulky product twice a week to remote taverns.

The Economist

During the expedition the British seized thousands of religious and decorative artefacts.In this section Négritude is beautiful, too Bronzed off Avid for Ovid Monkeying about with the novel ReprintsTo defray the costs of the expedition, most of these objects were then placed on the European art market, where they were snatched up by museums and private collectors.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about financial matters, use "defray" to specifically indicate the act of covering or paying for expenses. For instance, "The grant helped to "defray" the cost of the research project."

Common error

Avoid using "defray" when you mean to simply 'reduce' or 'lower' costs. "Defray" implies covering the entire cost or a significant portion of it, not just lessening it.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "defray" is as a transitive verb. It indicates the action of paying for or covering the cost of something. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples demonstrating its use in sentences where it directly acts upon an object (e.g., "defray the cost", "defray expenses").

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Encyclopedias

14%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Science

15%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "defray" is a transitive verb used to describe the action of covering or paying for costs or expenses. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used, especially in news and media, encyclopedias, and business contexts. While versatile, "defray" should be used when indicating the coverage of expenses, not merely reducing them. High-quality sources like The Economist and The New York Times frequently employ the term, affirming its place in formal and neutral registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cover the expenses

Focuses specifically on the act of covering costs.

offset the cost

Highlights reducing the financial burden.

bear the cost

Emphasizes responsibility for the expense.

foot the bill

An idiomatic expression for paying the total cost.

pay for

A more general term for settling a debt.

finance the expenditure

Implies providing funds for a specific expense.

subsidize the amount

Suggests providing financial support.

reimburse the sum

Focuses on repaying incurred expenses.

allocate funds for

Highlights dedicating resources to a particular purpose.

provide compensation for

Indicates offering payment for losses or damages.

FAQs

How can I use "defray" in a sentence?

You can use "defray" to indicate covering or paying for expenses, such as "The company offered a stipend to "defray the cost of" living for its interns".

What are some alternatives to using "defray"?

Some alternatives to "defray" include "cover the expenses", "offset the cost", or "bear the cost", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "defray from"?

No, it's more common to use "defray" with "the cost of" or "expenses". For example, "defray the cost of" something is correct.

What is the difference between "defray" and "reimburse"?

"Defray" typically means to cover or pay for costs upfront, while "reimburse" implies repaying someone for expenses they've already incurred.