defrayed the expense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "defrayed the expense" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of covering or paying for costs or expenses incurred. Example: "The organization defrayed the expense of the event through generous donations from local businesses."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Fabius did not need this, but the people, as a mark of their affection, defrayed the expenses of his funeral by a private contribution from each citizen of the smallest piece of coin; thus owning him their common father, and making his end no less honourable than his life.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Your donations help to defray the expense of publishing and allow the College to more fully devote its resources to students and faculty.

Columbia University

The financial stakes for the highway consortium are high because some of the cable will be leased to corporations and the telecommunications industry to help defray the expense of construction.

The New York Times

Use all means to persuade the Apaches of any tribe to come in for the purpose of making peace, and when you get them all together, kill all the grown Indians and take the children prisoners and sell them to defray the expense of killing Indians".

The New York Times

L. 98 192, § 3(a)(2), substituted "to defray, at the determination of the tribally controlled community college, expenditures for academic, educational, and administrative purposes and for the operation and maintenance of the college" for "to defray the expense of activities related to education programs for Indian students".

Cornell University

Five per cent. of the moneys collected are to be used to defray the expense of the administration of the act, and the remainder is to be distributed among the counties in proportion to the use of their highways (section 15).

Cornell University

The analysis, conducted by Jonathan Gruber, an M.I.T. economist who helped advise Massachusetts on its overhaul of health insurance, examines proposals being discussed by the Senate Finance Committee and others in which small companies would have to pay some portion of their payroll toward health benefits but would also receive some form of tax credits to defray the expense.

The New York Times

Payment was to be made to the collector of the port by the master, owner, consignee or agent of the ship; the money was to be paid into the Treasury, was to be called the immigrant fund, and to be used by the Secretary of the Treasury to defray the expense of regulating immigration, for the care of immigrants and relieving those in distress, and for the expenses of effectuating the act.

Cornell University

Another step, they say, would be for funding agencies to provide money to defray the expense of meeting requests.

Science Magazine

He sells most of the CDs to friends and clients to defray the expense, but he's under no illusions that it will enable him to ditch his day job as a piano tuner for Steinway.

Forbes

However, the turnpike was eventually abandoned, because the tolls received were not sufficient to defray the expense of maintaining the road and associated bridges.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "defrayed the expense" when you want to indicate that a specific fund, donation, or revenue stream was used to cover a cost. It often implies a deliberate allocation of resources.

Common error

Avoid using "defrayed the expense" in very informal or casual conversations. Simpler terms like "paid for" or "covered" are more appropriate for everyday language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "defrayed the expense" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of covering or paying for a particular cost. Based on Ludwig AI's analysis, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Academia

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "defrayed the expense" is a grammatically sound and usable expression indicating the covering or payment of a cost. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, its frequency is currently unverified due to a lack of direct examples. Alternatives such as "covered the cost" or "paid for the expense" offer similar meanings. This phrase is suitable for neutral to formal contexts, with a slightly more elevated tone than simpler alternatives. Usage tips include reserving it for scenarios involving deliberate allocation of funds and avoiding it in very informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

covered the cost

Focuses on the act of covering the total cost.

covered the expenses

Plural form, indicating multiple expenses were covered.

paid for the expense

Emphasizes the action of payment for the cost.

met the expense

Suggests that the expense was successfully addressed or paid.

offset the cost

Highlights the balancing of costs against revenue or savings.

bore the cost

Suggests enduring or taking on the financial burden.

funded the cost

Highlights the act of providing the necessary funds.

financed the expense

Focuses on the provision of funds for the expense.

subsidized the expense

Indicates partial financial support was given.

absorbed the cost

Implies the expense was taken in without passing it on.

FAQs

What does "defrayed the expense" mean?

The phrase "defrayed the expense" means that a cost or expense was covered or paid for, often through a specific allocation of funds or resources.

What can I say instead of "defrayed the expense"?

You can use alternatives like "covered the cost", "paid for the expense", or "offset the cost" depending on the context.

Is "defrayed the expense" formal or informal?

"Defrayed the expense" is generally considered a formal phrase, suitable for academic, business, or news contexts. Simpler alternatives are preferred in informal settings.

How to use "defrayed the expense" in a sentence?

Example: "The grant covered the cost of the research project, enabling the team to complete their work."