expenditure

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'expenditure' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the amount of money spent on something or the act of spending money. For example: "They have greatly reduced their expenditure on advertising this year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Given the size of government expenditure on child care, Scott Morrison needs to provide detail about the real impacts of his changes to the system".

The Guardian

Last week's cuts saw DECC reducing the research expenditure on offshore wind by £3m, just as the CCC suggested that the industry needs £50m a year of public money.

The Guardian

Costello's cuts to expenditure were double that.

The Guardian - Business

"I can't tell you what the motive was, to me it looks like they were looking at the bottom line, looking at the expenditure... rather than looking closer to home and going to their department heads," Sudmalis said.

The Guardian

"We're still seeing growth in most areas of expenditure but this sharp contraction in aid".

The Guardian

France and Germany, both of which have bigger economies, spent 11.3%, while in the US health expenditure is more than 17% of GDP.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's not hard to guess one outcome of Sainsbury's deliberations: either capital expenditure or the dividend will have to be cut, and a hefty slice from both is the likely pragmatic course.

The Guardian - Business

She said: "Not all of the expenditure that has been earmarked has been used with great efficiency … We need to address that".

The Guardian

This amount shows as an increase, not a cut, because the largest planned Gonski expenditure was outside the four-year cycle covered by the Labor government's final budget.

The Guardian

The details of actual election expenditure by parties and candidates will not be fully published until later in the year.

The Guardian

Did they applaud the Guardian for its expenditure of time and resources in order to reveal the pressures applied by the heir to the throne on elected politicians?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your vocabulary by using synonyms like "outlay" or "disbursement" to avoid repetition and maintain reader engagement.

Common error

Avoid using "expense" and "expenditure" interchangeably. "Expense" typically refers to a specific cost, while "expenditure" is the act of spending or the total amount spent. For example, it is better to say "The total expenditure on the project was high" rather than "The total expense on the project was high."

Linguistic Context

The noun "expenditure" functions primarily as a subject or object in a sentence. It denotes the act of spending funds or the total amount spent, as evidenced by the examples in Ludwig. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "expenditure" is a grammatically correct and widely used noun that refers to the act of spending or the total amount spent. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for formal writing and carries a neutral to formal tone. Primarily found in "News & Media" and "Formal & Business" contexts, it's crucial to distinguish it from "expense", which refers to a specific cost. By following best practices and avoiding common errors, you can effectively use "expenditure" to add precision and clarity to your writing, especially in financial discussions. Consider related terms like "spending", "outlay", or "costs" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spending

Replaces "expenditure" with a more general and common term.

outlay

Substitutes "expenditure" with a synonym that emphasizes the act of paying out money.

expenses

Replaces "expenditure" with a plural noun, focusing on the different costs involved.

costs

Offers a direct and simple alternative to "expenditure", referring to the amount paid.

disbursement

Replaces "expenditure" with a more formal term, highlighting the act of distributing funds.

payments

Substitutes "expenditure" with a term emphasizing the act of giving money.

financial commitment

Replaces "expenditure" with a phrase that emphasizes the binding nature of spending.

capital investment

Substitutes "expenditure" with a phrase specific to investments in assets.

cash outflow

Replaces "expenditure" with a term emphasizing the movement of money out of an account.

monetary allocation

Substitutes "expenditure" with a formal phrase, highlighting the act of assigning funds.

FAQs

How can I use "expenditure" in a sentence?

"Expenditure" is used to refer to the act of spending money or the total amount spent. For example, "The government's "expenditure" on education increased this year" or "They need to reduce their monthly "expenditure"".

What are some alternatives to the word "expenditure"?

You can use alternatives like "spending", "outlay", "expenses", or "costs" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "expenditure" and "expense" interchangeably?

While related, "expenditure" and "expense" are not always interchangeable. "Expense" typically refers to a specific cost, while "expenditure" refers to the act of spending or the total amount spent. It depends on the context, but for expressing the act of spending it is more appropriate using "expenditure".

What's the difference between "expenditure" and "investment"?

"Expenditure" refers to the act of spending money, regardless of the outcome. "Investment", on the other hand, implies that the money is spent with the expectation of future profit or benefit. An "expenditure" might not yield a return, but an investment is intended to.